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How to Survive Your Season of Waiting

by | 86 comments

How to Survive Your Season of Waiting

Waiting has never been a popular activity. Perhaps that’s why we share a tendency to avoid waiting at every turn.

I crane my neck to count the number of people ahead of me in line.
I check my phone every few seconds for a response.
I press refresh on the internet page in hopes of an update.

These are among our everyday waits.

Wait to graduate. Wait to marry. Wait for a child. Wait for a job. Wait for a promotion. Wait for retirement.

These are among our lifetime waits.

Wait to outgrow insecurities. Wait for the anxiety to leave. Wait for the aftershocks of the trauma to end. Wait for a broken heart to heal. Wait for the addiction to lose its grip.

These are among our heart waits.

Wait for a sense of the nearness of God to return. Wait for a word from God that will change everything. Wait for God to fulfill his promise.

These are among our God waits.

How to Survive Your Season of Waiting

Perhaps we should not be surprised that all the men and women who appear in the opening pages of Luke engage in the spiritual discipline of waiting.

Zechariah. Elizabeth. Mary. Simeon. Anna.

All wait for something good. Something holy, something divine.

Not all who live in Israel are waiting. Some have given up hope. Others have stopped looking for their rescuer. Still others have fallen into criticism and cynicism.

Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, and Anna remind us that no matter how long the wait, we can still be attentive, hopeful, expectant.

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“The secret of waiting is the faith that the seed has been planted, that something has begun.

Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it.

A waiting person is present to the moment, who believes that this moment is the moment.”

This Christmas season my hope and prayer is that you will awaken to your waiting hopeful and expectant of God. And along the way you will find surprise and delight and joy in the way He answers you—Emanuel.

Recommended Resources:

[1] Henri Nouwen. Finding My Way Home: Pathways to Life and the Spirit, Crossroads Publishing, 2001.

86 Comments

  1. Chris
    Chris on December 12, 2016 at 7:33 am

    I love reading and learning from the things you write, and and was super blessed this morning to see your reference to Henry Nouwen. Each time I read his writing, I feel like he his speaking directly to my heart and his teaching is filled with the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being such a blessing.

  2. Diane
    Diane on December 12, 2016 at 7:47 am

    Thank you so much for this excellent post. I copied some of your quotes into my journal as reminders during this time of waiting in my own life.
    May God bless you as you bless others.

  3. Bobbie McNatt
    Bobbie McNatt on December 12, 2016 at 7:58 am

    Right now I am in a period of waiting to see what God is doing. I see Him working all the time, but still don’t see the answer. Thank you for your comments. God still speaks through His people. God Bless you.

  4. Gina
    Gina on December 12, 2016 at 8:36 am

    God bless you. The way you remind us of Our Lord’s promises within our everyday life is inspiring.

    I am in the mist of a heart wait. You have reminded me to get back into a God wait.

    Thank you! :~)

  5. Joy
    Joy on December 12, 2016 at 10:52 am

    Your comments are always so timely. Been in a season of waiting for a while now. Thankfully I know God’s timing is perfect.

  6. Angela
    Angela on December 12, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Thank you for this. God’s timing is perfect. I battled cancer the same time you did. I’ve been fine and then last night the trauma of going through chemo came flooding back. I laid in bed stuck in that horrible place. Very few understand. Your words were God’s perfect timing for me. Thank you for your faithfull service! God bless!!!

  7. Martha Orlando
    Martha Orlando on December 12, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Waiting is not always easy, but waiting expectantly in God’s timing is ultimately fulfilling and worth every moment of patience and hope we give to it. Let us all wait with joy and renewed hope this Advent season!
    Blessings, Margaret!

  8. nicole
    nicole on December 12, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    Ty for sharing this for me.

  9. Betty Lou Rennie
    Betty Lou Rennie on December 12, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    I am in a time of waiting. Some days it is easy, other days it is hard as I never know when the perfect time is coming. Only God knows that and for that I am thankful.

  10. Kristina Knox
    Kristina Knox on December 12, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    The loss of my husband in the last year and a half, from cancer, has made me really feel the waiting for the redemption of all things. I’ve joined with creation in groaning for His making things right.

  11. Sylvia Ronnau
    Sylvia Ronnau on December 13, 2016 at 3:11 am

    Thank you for another wonderful article about waiting. We are very much a waiting society, just as I am waiting for my chronic pain to disappear. Thanks for this wonderful piece.

  12. Margaret
    Margaret on December 14, 2016 at 4:38 pm

    Thank you for the kind words, Chris!

  13. Margaret
    Margaret on December 14, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Great idea, Diane! It’s so good to go back for reminders sometimes.

  14. Margaret
    Margaret on December 14, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    Love that in the season of waiting you are keeping your eyes on God and see Him moving still. What a joy that is!

  15. Margaret
    Margaret on December 14, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    Praying your faith is strengthened through the waiting, Gina!

  16. Margaret
    Margaret on December 14, 2016 at 4:45 pm

    It rarely is our timing, but it is perfect. Hugs!

  17. Margaret
    Margaret on December 14, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Prayers for you, sweet Angela. Huge hug coming your way!

  18. Margaret
    Margaret on December 15, 2016 at 2:02 pm

    Beautifully stated, Martha!

  19. Margaret
    Margaret on December 15, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    Prayers that you still sense God there in the midst of waiting. Hugs!

  20. Margaret
    Margaret on December 15, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Huge hug to you, Kristina! Prayers that redemption comes sooner than you expect and in a way that only He can provide.

  21. Margaret
    Margaret on December 15, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Thank you, Sylvia! Hugs!

  22. Faith St Juliette
    Faith St Juliette on December 24, 2016 at 5:17 am

    This has been in my email for a while, and today was the perfect day to read it. My kids are waiting for Christmas, my husband is waiting on financial peace, and I was waiting on a sign to step out on faith and follow my heart’s desire to start my own business. Your words are always such a blessing and reminds us to be hopeful, joyful, and content. Thank you. I got to see you in person for the first time at our Women’s event at Cross Pointe Church and you brought laughter, tears, and touched the heart and lives of many there. Thank you for all you do, it makes a big impact.

  23. Margaret
    Margaret on December 28, 2016 at 4:02 pm

    Thank you, sweet Faith! Praying the Lord shows up in big ways for your family! Hugs!

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