Season of Waiting

By: Grace Metzger

 For God alone, O my soul, wait in

 silence, for my hope is from Him.

Psalm 62:5 ESV

I’ve recently been very interested in the story of Hannah. Her story has always made me a bit sad, she spent years begging for a child only to still be unable to get pregnant. Not only was she unable to get pregnant, but instead of having support and love given to her during this time of struggle, the Bible says she was provoked and mocked. Hannah continued to pray to God, in fact she was so focused on speaking with God that no words even came out of her mouth making Eli assume she was drunk! God didn’t forget Hannah and she became pregnant with Samuel very soon after her prayer.

The reason this story has been on my mind lately is because I’ve recently seen a lot of people in a season of waiting. Being forced to wait isn’t easy on anyone and it can cause a lot of people to struggle in their walk with God. It’s human nature to want to take control and fix everything, at least it’s something that I definitely try to do when I’m going through something.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and
take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalms 27:14 CSB

This verse instructions us on exactly how we should handle a season of waiting. Being strong, taking heart, and waiting on God. This is very much an easier said then done situation. I know for me, the longer I wait, the more doubt creeps into my mind, and where doubt lives faith is absent. I started really struggling with this recently, waiting forever prompts more and more thoughts in my mind like, "What if this isn't God's plan for me?" 

Those kind of thoughts can quickly become a powerful thing if allowed, they can place doubt on God's power, God's plans for you, and most importantly God's love for you. So how do we even stop this? How do we ensure we stay away from this?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans

to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

I wish I could answer this with a quick one step plan on the easiest and best ways to wait patiently in God's presence, but sadly, I don't believe it can be done that easy. I don't think there's a magic button that makes you patient. Like many things in your walk with Christ, it takes time and effort. By putting in the time and effort into my walk with Christ, I found I didn't have the time or energy to worry about the unknown future.

By focusing on God and putting my mind on Him, my mind was no longer worried or in doubt. Instead it was strength because of the fact that I was putting in time to make my relationship with God. Instead of crying over my situation, I prayed with God. Instead of spending time worrying, I spent time reading my Bible. These things work, trust me! I have had a lot of waiting this year, I feel like this whole year I have been stuck in a season of waiting. But when I started putting in the time and effort into my relationship with God, it was so much better, happier, and last fearful then when I was putting the time and effort into my worry. So if you find yourself in a season of waiting, just start replacing those negative thoughts with prayers, start replacing the time spent pacing the living room with time spent in ministry. 

Discussion:

What do you do when you find yourself in a season of waiting?