What to do with your faith in seasons of waiting

Not long ago, when my boys and I were driving back from a long day of wrestling in Nebraska, I was fixated on what I saw in the distance, which was the Holyoke water tower and grain bins. I was so focused on the frame ahead that I almost missed my turn into the gravel driveway of our property.

“Mom!” my 7-year-old yelled, “don’t miss our house!”

I slammed on the brakes and barely made the right turn in. Good thing my son was paying better attention than me.

That little experience reminded me of the temptation to look too far in the future when we’re waiting on God’s perfect timing. We can be so consumed by not having answers now that we miss out on life’s blessings right in front of our faces.

In times of waiting, sometimes we don’t know what to do with our faith. We may feel far from God because he hasn’t answered our prayers in our timing and how we would like him to. We may even be mad at him — constantly questioning what he’s doing.

Seasons of waiting can be extremely trying. I’ve even heard that waiting is a form of suffering. You don’t have what you’re praying for. You think about it all the time. Your mind and body are affected by exhaustion. You’re constantly telling friends and family, “We’re still in the process. We don’t have answers yet.” The in-between stage is humbling, to say the least.

I’ve always loved this quote by Elisabeth Elliot, “Sometimes life is so hard you can only do the next thing. Whatever that is, just do the next thing. God will meet you there.”

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