It’s been quite the season for me. Not because big things are happening, but because things are not happening. I’m still waiting to hear back from those who requested more information about my manuscript at the ACFW conference, though honestly this wait was expected and hasn’t been too difficult. It’s part of the process.
The harder waiting is stuff I had planned to dive into, but God put a very clear message in my path: Wait. This has actually happened twice in the past few weeks. I thought I had good plans and was ready to move forward, but I’m trusting that these delays are for His purposes. Instead of kicking in protest, I’m reminding myself of what the Bible says about waiting. In Psalm 27, the final verse promises us that if we wait on the Lord, “…He shall strengthen thine heart.” There’s a similar promise in Isaiah 40:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”
This is a time to let God do what He will do. There’s strength in waiting, even if I don’t understand it right now.
Waiting might be hard, but disappointment is even more difficult. Recently I’ve been mourning a closed door in my life, and I’ve wondered if I missed God’s plan by knocking on that door in the first place, even though I approached it with counsel and lots of prayer. God comforted me by assuring me that it was okay to dream this big, brave, beautiful dream—that He was with me in the dream, even though it wasn’t meant to come to pass. It was a gift, and it brought me closer to Him.
That doesn’t mean the loss is less painful or without tears. It definitely hurts. But there’s peace that comes from recognizing God’s presence and His plan even when He says “no.” Like all loving Fathers, ” no” and “wait” are not the only answers He has for His children. Someday, there will be green lights and big, brave, beautiful dreams that come true. This season is not one of those times, but those times are ahead. I am choosing to believe He is strengthening me now for when they arrive.
“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
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Our ladies Bible study is really a great one this year on Women of the Bible. Yes waiting is one of the big topics we are seeing in Sarah and Eve that we have been studying. Joy does come in the morning and we are all assured of that very thing because God told us so. Praying for you as you wait.
Thank you for reminding me of that verse from Psalm 30! That was an encouragement to me. I appreciate your prayers.
Beautifully expressed. I am sorry to hear you are in a tough season, Erin, but you you have a wonderful, Christ-centered attitude about it. Hang in there, sister.
Thank you so much, Julie. I know God has good things in store!
Whenever God has had me wait or says “no,” to me, I usually end up discovering that He was either protecting me from something or that He had something much better that he was preparing for me.
Yes, I have seen this too! I think it’s just hitting extra hard because it’s in so many different areas right now. Thank you for this good reminder. 🙂