I’m so annoyed! There’s something I’ve been waiting on that I really thought would have happened by now. I waited patiently for a while already. (I was kind of proud of myself for that.) But now I’ve reached my limit. I can’t keep waiting.
You know what else is annoying? Just because I think I’ve reached my limit doesn’t mean the wait is over. Ugh!
Have you ever noticed how many Bible verses there are on the topic of waiting? I guess God knew it would be a common theme in our lives.
Another question for you: have you ever found the waiting Scriptures to be kind of irritating? I’ll give you an example.
Isaiah 40:31
…but those who keep waiting for the LORD will renew their strength. Then they’ll soar on wings like eagles; they’ll run and not grow weary; they’ll walk and not grow tired. (ISV)
Strength, soaring, running.
In my experience, the time of waiting is exactly the opposite. Sometimes I feel like I must be doing something wrong since all I feel is weak, weary, and tired.
I’ve begun to wonder if the purpose of the waiting time, or at least part of it, is to bring to the surface that which is hidden in our minds and hearts – the beliefs and fears that make us continually weak and tired.
We want an external change so that we can feel better, but God is working an internal change first. We want to become strong, but weakness is smack dab in the middle of the road between here and there.
Feel free to join me in groaning. I know – the internal stuff feels so much harder to address. Where do we even start?
We start by coming to Jesus. Then we get honest about what is going on in us as we wait.
A sample prayer
Hi Jesus.
I’m going to tell you right now that this is not going to be the “holiest” prayer you’ve ever heard.
I’m too annoyed to be nice, so I hope you don’t mind if I just cut to the chase.
All this waiting is making me crazy.
I can’t stand it anymore.
I’ve tried working hard. I’ve tried being patient. But nothing is working.
I’m stuck. And I hate it.
Being stuck is the worst.
It makes me feel all sorts of other things I don’t want to feel.
I feel angry.
I feel powerless.
I feel worried that nothing will ever change.
I feel alone.
(Anything else?)
I am out of my own strength…
But maybe that’s okay.
Maybe that’s a perfect place for you to step in.
Maybe that’s how we get new strength – when we run out of the old strength.
Please come to me in my weakness.
I need you.
Excerpt from future book More than Fine by Steve and Jamie Wiechman
Photo by Ono Kosuki from Pexels
Breathe Life Ministries 
After our prayer time today I thought when I express my trust in the Lord, I will see a revelation, but it seems I still have to wait, and it hurts to wait and worry comes along.
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Oh Hala… I’m sorry for what you’ve been through, and for the answers that are slow in coming. All I know is to keep going back to him – as many times as it takes. And when we’re too tired to do that, we rest. Everything that matters to you is held by him. You are so precious.
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