How to flourish in your waiting season

Anyone who has ever had to wait for something knows how difficult it can be. This is especially so if it’s something that would change your life considerably.

I recently came across an interesting quote about our desires and ability to wait:

“Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.”

Naval Ravikant

I don’t know about you, but the above quote got to me because I could relate.

When our hearts are set on something, we usually focus on it, we spend inordinate amounts of time – thinking about it, praying about it, and even talking about it. These desires can consume our lives.

When it takes longer than expected to receive what we are waiting for, it can negatively affect our countenance and attitude.

Do you agree?

Perhaps, I have painted a bleak picture but here’s a story that highlights what I mean:

Whenever time came for Elkanah to make an offering…to Hannah he would give a double portion for he loved her but the Lord closed her womb. And her rival (*Peninnah) provoked her severely to make her miserable…therefore she wept and did not eat.

1 Sam 1:4-7 (*addition mine)

Hannah’s desire for a child and the ridicule she faced consumed her. She was so focused on this that she failed to be grateful for what she had. Elkanah had to ask her: “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (1 Sam 1:6)

Could God be asking us a similar question today?

This is not because he doesn’t want to provide for his children, Psalm 37:4 clearly confirms that God does. It is more about how we may have allowed the things we are praying for obscure the blessings in what we already have.

For some of us, our biggest desire is to get married.

It is a constant prayer that has led to many sleepless nights and buckets of tears. We don’t understand why God is silent. This then builds feelings of fear, pain, and displeasure which seep into other areas, making us sad and unhappy.

As Naval’s quote shows; we have unknowingly made ourselves unhappy and this compounds our ability to wait patiently and pleasurably in God.

Thankfully, there is an antidote to this:

Three ways to help you flourish in your waiting season

Here are three things you can do when you’re waiting on God – cultivate gratitude, practice contentment, and build intimacy.

1. Cultivate Gratitude

“When you’re grateful…there’s not a lot of room for negativity.”

Louie Schwartzberg

In simple terms, it’s harder to be unhappy when you’re grateful.

I used the word cultivate because it must be an active process. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines cultivate as “to improve by labour, care or study.”

How about you start right this minute?

Take out a paper and pen, or the notes app on your phone and write out what God has done for you this week, this month, and even this year.

You will be amazed at how this will lift your spirits.

Do it often and see your happiness levels grow.

Personally, daily journaling allows me to take stock of all God does for me each day and this has been life-changing.

2. Practice Contentment

Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally.

I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.

I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.

I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry,

hands full or hands empty.

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it

through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Philippians 4:11-13(MSG)

 

Enough said!??

Drops mike on Apostle Paul’s behalf. ???

 

3. Build Intimacy with God

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we inexorably align our desires to his will and purpose. At this point, it becomes about him and his kingdom. In Hannah’s story, things changed when her prayer changed. She moved from self to God and heaven answered.

And she was in bitterness of soul,

and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.

Then she made a vow…”

1 Samuel 1:10-11

The use of ‘then’ shows a change in state. How amazing! Hannah had come to the end of herself and all that was left was God.

Where are our current prayers centered?

Can we honestly pray – ‘not my will but Thine be done?’

Can we hand over our lives and all that we have to God and ask him to use it for his glory? (See Romans 12:1-2)

 

Concluding Thoughts

Please don’t read this post and believe that God will not answer your biggest desire. I believe God is calling his daughters to align their lives and lifestyle to his plan and purposes for them. He is calling us to trust and obey believing that he can do more than we can ask or imagine. Amen.