Waiting On God

It's amazing how many choices we make in a day, down to the places we go, the people we surround ourselves with, the ways we react, the words we say, and much more. This means we have countless opportunities to please God with the choices we make - but the problem is some choices are harder to make than others. Another problem is that we want answers right away. In our fast-paced culture where we have so many things at our fingertips, it's not always easy to wait on God when we seek direction.

I can recall times in my life when I made decisions without feeling like God was with me. I might have prayed about it and asked for guidance, but when I didn't hear His answer, I went ahead with what I thought was best anyway. I always ended up feeling like I was taking one step forward and three steps back. I chose what I wanted and maybe what I thought was best, but eventually it didn't work and I was back at square one. I didn't realize at the time how God was trying to use those moments of waiting to strengthen my relationship with Him.

Throughout the past few years of studying education, I've learned instructional strategies to use in a classroom, one of them being "wait-time." It's the period of time the teacher gives the students to process the question before calling on them. I couldn't help but think about this and relate it to the amount of time God gives us before He reveals and confirms answers. I scanned through my old notes and noticed the intended outcome for using this strategy in the classroom is focus. The teacher doesn't demand an answer immediately, but allows the students time to focus and process through the question. I believe God has us wait for His answers sometimes because it's in those times when we can focus intently on Him, seeking His will and patiently relying on Him to lead the way.

I found myself in a situation recently where I didn't have an answer; I knew I couldn't figure it out own my own and realized it wouldn't be something I figured out immediately. I chose to give it over to God and continue to do so everyday. In all honesty, I still don't know what the outcome will be, but I am amazed at how much peace God's given me as He uses this time of uncertainty to bring me closer to Him. He's been showing me just how much better it is to wait on Him and then move forward in the direction He leads.

Part of waiting on God includes accepting whatever answer He gives us and then opening our hearts and minds to following His lead. When students in a classroom give their answer, the teacher typically reassures and praises them with words like "yes," "you're right," or "very good." What happens when the student gives the wrong answer? The teacher has to correct and redirect them - not because they don't love them and not because they want to reject their idea, but because they know it's in the student's best interest to give them the right answer. The teacher knows what the students will need to learn in order to succeed and they correct them because they care for them. God does the same for us. He already knows the outcomes of the choices we have yet to make. He sees beyond what we are capable of seeing ourselves and because of this, He knows what's best for us. It's up to us to trust in Him and in His timing. If we follow him wholeheartedly, He will always guide our journey and lead us to the answers we need.  

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary..." - Isaiah 40:31, KJV