I’ve been in my own season of waiting. Everything I described last week - feeling like it won’t end, doubting God’s promises - has been real for me over the last number of months.
BUT. It’s all a matter of perspective.
The reality is different than I thought - my “waiting” hasn’t been one long season, but a series of seasons. With the benefit of hindsight and some curiosity, I see that as God has continued to change me, and grow me, and refine me, there have been multiple “seasons,” not just one.
I am different.
My family is different. My marriage is different. My view of faith is different. And my relationship with God is different. And some of the things I was waiting for have actually arrived. But I tend to focus on one or two big promises to the detriment of really celebrating the other ones which had to come first.
When you stop long enough to zoom out and surround yourself with people who see your big picture, the truth of waiting will start to look different.
The thing about perspective is this - I won’t always see what’s happening or why. In fact, I rarely do. You won't either. And if you think you do, well, that's lovely for you...
God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways.
I was reminded this week that His plans are SOOOOO much bigger than mine. I don’t always see the new thing He is doing. But regardless of whether I see it, God is still providing and making a way in places where I wouldn’t even think possible.
This scripture shows us that:
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
The wilderness is not a place where a path should exist, or where there would be a way through.
The wasteland is not a place where fresh water should be found.
Water is life in a place like that.
And a way in the wilderness is how you come through from a place where you would otherwise be lost and directionless.
But just like Israel, we can be oblivious to the new thing God is doing. We can be so busy looking at how long we've been waiting, or listening to those voices inside our head that feed us doubt, that we don't see it. And sometimes we are looking, but it's not in view just yet.
That's often it in the times of waiting. It's not in view - YET.
That new job? It's coming, but it's not here yet.
The relationship God promised to restore? It's coming, but it's not here yet.
Your freedom from debt? It's coming, but it's not here yet.
The relief from depression you've been praying for? It's coming, but it's not here yet.
There's a song by Red Rocks Worship called "There's No Way" that I've had on repeat the last few weeks and I've been struck by this bridge:
I know my healing's coming.
It's just a matter of time.
I know my answer's coming.
It's just a matter of time.
I know provision's coming.
It's just a matter of time.
My full redemption's coming.
It's just a matter of time.
I know my healing's coming.
It's just a matter of time.
I know my answer's coming.
It's just a matter of time.
I know provision's coming.
It's just a matter of time.
Jesus our King is coming.
It's just a matter of time.
Your invitation this week is to ask God for a new perspective on the waiting. Just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t. It just means that you’re on a timeline you created instead of His. Let it go.
Choose to remain in a posture of believing. If God said it, it IS coming. His word won't return to Him void.
Grace, peace, and power,
Juli