More than Waiting

I think so often in the waiting seasons the greatest thing we fear is missing out.

Missing out on the moment

Missing our turn

Missing the mark

Missing out on a part of life

But I think the thing we should fear the greatest in the midst of the waiting isn't missing out on material things

But, rather, if we miss the purpose of the process

Miss the refining

The growing

All the things that processes do

Don't miss God in the moment because you were so focused on getting out of the present

We literally live in a world that strives to be out of the present and into the future. Into the next thing. And once we get there, we continue to strive for the next. It never ends. We are in a constant state of striving for better, for more, and for next. If we paused in the waiting and didn't just see it as a period of waiting, but as a season itself as well, so much would change. Our attitude. Our perspective. Our hearts. We miss out on so much when all we see is a waiting season. Because we see that season as nothing more but a time filler. All we need to do is wait it out long enough and we'll eventually get what we want. What if we saw "waiting seasons" as another season? I hear people so often say "oh I'm just in a waiting season." And while that may be true, when we label a season as a "waiting season" we miss out on the fullness of that season because we become so focused on getting out of it. I think we all are waiting on something all the time. Waiting for that job. That relationship. That retirement. That next phase of life. That friendship. We are a people who are always in a position of waiting for what's next, rather than praising for what's present. What if the season you were in was meant for more than just waiting? More than just passing time? What if it was also meant to be lived to it's fullest? We often overlook seasons of waiting as seasons needing to be lived to the fullest too. Even in seasons where we are waiting for the next thing, God still wants to give us His best in the present. His best isn't only waiting for us in what's next. He desires for us to receive His best in EVERY SEASON. Even ones we wish we didn't have to go through. The waiting is more than a way to pass time. More than a season we overlook. Waiting seasons hold value, purpose, lessons, and so much life inside of them as well. Don't miss God in this season because you're so focused on getting out of it. God doesn't waste any season. Sit in the present and ask Him what He has for you here. There's a tension here because culture tells us to put pressure on the waiting. To speed up the process. Scripture tells us...

Be still.

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'"

-Psalm 46:10

Wait.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

-Psalm 27:14

Rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters

-Psalm 23:2