The theme park of life is crowded and everyone wants to ride. Waiting is not optional–it is required.
My husband and I really love going to amusement parks. Mind you, I’m not particularly fond of heights or speed; but somehow he always lures me onto the newest, most death-defying rollercoaster, which generally means standing in the longest line. You’ve experienced THE LINE– the one that winds around, and around, and around…and just when you think you’ve arrived it goes around and around again.
Waiting on God to fulfill his promise to you can feel like standing in that endless line on a scorching hot summer day (and you forgot your hat, sunscreen and water!). Or, it can feel like you’re having the time of your life with family and friends in a place that is magical and exciting. It all depends on your attitude. Understand this, the theme park of life is crowded and everyone wants to ride. Waiting is not optional–it is required.
Waiting is one of life’s major frustrations that can be avoided if we just accept our season. Believe it or not, waiting is also a season. There is a time to sow and a time to reap. But in between those two times, there is a time to wait. If you’ve been believing God for a l-o-o-o-o-n-g time and you’re sick and tired of waiting for that promise to arrive, don’t give up yet. Practice these seven strategies to make your wait enjoyable and worthwhile.
1. Know that the line is moving
I don’t know about you, but I can stand in any line as long as it is moving. When it comes to God’s purpose in our lives, we can trust him. He is moving. We can’t always see what’s going on ahead of us, but we can see God’s character continually. The same God that makes sure the sun rises every morning and sets every evening will make sure that you achieve your purpose…at the right time.
2. Prepare yourself
Utilize the wait to learn and strengthen your character as much as you can before your harvest arrives. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and develop a strategy to maximize or offset them when necessary. When your harvest comes you should be ready for it, not getting ready.
3. Build relationships
Once you achieve the goal or the dream, who will be there to celebrate with you? If you haven’t taken the time to cultivate relationships, success can be a lonely place. A ride is more fun when it’s shared. Don’t forget to bring someone with you, the more the merrier.
4. Learn from those ahead of you
While my husband and I are waiting to get on a rollercoaster, we often ask the people who are exiting the ride–Was it scary? How many curves, twists and turns did it take? Were there any sudden drops? People who have already been where you are going can give you great guidance and tell you what to anticipate as you begin your journey.
5. Encourage yourself
Anything worthwhile will take time, money and risk. Unfortunately no one can tell us exactly how much time or how much money or how much we will have to risk in order to realize our dreams. Only God knows the answer to that and he likes suspense. Even when you can’t see God’s provision or understand his methods, encourage yourself by trusting his word. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” If God said it, it will happen.
6. Stay in line
Remember, if you get out of line, you have to start over at the beginning. Don’t lose your spot because of doubt and discouragement. Stay in position until your turn comes. You can and you will fulfill your destiny as long as you don’t quit.
7. Be bold and courageous
God will take your faith to the edge of the precipice and dare you to jump. Just when you think you can’t do anymore, give anymore or take another risk, God asks you to take a leap of faith. You can’t see the net he has prepared to catch you, but it’s there. So throw your hands in the air, toss caution to the wind and enjoy the ride. The wait is worth it.
Power Scriptures for Your Journey:
- Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
- Isaiah 55; 8-11 – “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them. (The Message)
