Finding Joy in the Waiting

My husband and I were in Austria this summer. We love to hike and we found a gorge to climb. The descents were steep and the climb up was even steeper. In the midst of the beauty of my surroundings, I found myself profusely sweating with my heart pounding and my legs hurting. I couldn’t wait to reach the top.

Waiting…it’s simple and yet can be deeply challenging…and sometimes…very, very hard. 

The Truth in Waiting

The concept of waiting is interwoven into the fabric of our lives. We wait for everything. Some things are easier to wait for than others like waiting for a bus versus waiting to meet just the right person to marry or waiting for the arrival of your first baby. And when it comes to waiting on God, well, that takes on a whole new dimension.

Waiting on God isn't a passive act; it's an opportunity for growth, for deepening our faith. When we embrace the waiting, we learn to trust in the process, find purpose in the pause, and embrace the mystery. 

It's like watching a sunrise after a long, dark night. The beauty of the dawn wouldn't be as breathtaking without the preceding darkness. Similarly, the answers, the breakthroughs, carry a profound significance because of the waiting.  

What is a Waiting Season?

Waiting is a season, a chapter in our story. There's an anticipation—and excitement even—that comes with waiting on God. And it's in the waiting, that we learn to trust God.

Our relationship with Him deepens.

Our faith is tested.

Our resolve is tested.

We learn to trust in a plan beyond our comprehension, in a timing that's not ours to dictate. It's about relinquishing control and surrendering to God. Let's be real; waiting isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea. In a world of instant gratification, waiting feels counterintuitive. We want things pronto, served on a silver platter. But here's the thing about waiting on God—it's more about the journey than the destination.

The Purpose of Waiting

Believe it or not, waiting serves a purpose. It's not merely a void to be filled; it's a space for preparation. It's a time of refining, shaping, and molding our character. It's where we learn to appreciate the journey, not just the destination.

Keep the faith, keep the hope, and keep embracing the wait. After all, the best views often come after the hardest climbs.

Until next time, keep waiting, keep growing, and keep believing.

With hope and encouragement,

Julia Mateer