There is a section in Dr. Suess’ book “Oh the Places’ You’ll Go!” that speaks to this season we find ourselves in.
The main character is zooming through life, traveling around unfettered with endless possibilities, but then (spoiler alert!) finds himself in “the most useless place…The WAITING PLACE.”
Here we are, six WEEKS into…the waiting place.
Do you resonate with Dr. Suess when he writes that we don’t belong there?
“Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!
That's not for you!”
Yet here we are.
Everyone is just waiting.
Some are waiting for work to pick back up. Others are exhausted and longing for their lives and vocations to slow down and return to what it was.
All of us, in very different ways, just…waiting. Waiting through all the emotions. Waiting through all the possibilities. Just. Waiting.
Were you ready to wait like this? I wasn’t. Thankfully, when we look to the bible, it has a lot to say about these in-between times.
The word “wait” is used more than 100 times in the biblical canon and the ancient text seems to see it very differently than our modern minds.
When we think about waiting, the “win” on the other side is most often for a change in our circumstances or situations. Things improving. Getting better. Changing in our direction and for our individual good.
However, in the story of scripture, the “win” is renewed relationship with the God who is at work in the waiting. For followers of Jesus, our hearts, minds, and focus are to be set towards Him in the days of delay.
See how Jeremiah sees things as he sits in the in-between:
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:25-26
David’s focus was toward God in all things:
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7
We aren’t exempt from difficult seasons and prolonged seasons of delay. Yes, it isn’t as it should be. We were made for community and togetherness. Still, the good news is the promise that there is a God who is at work in us and through us. It’s been said before, “the waiting is never wasted.”
How does God use waiting to work in us?
Waiting reveals - When we live at a faster pace, it is easier to ignore some of the unhealthy patterns, habits, and hopes that we have. Waiting pulls back the curtain of our hearts to show what’s really there. What have you seen in the last 6 weeks? The good? The not-so-good?
Waiting purifies - God doesn’t shy away from the unsightly aspects of our souls. In love, He is the one who refines us from all that dehumanizes toward a greater experience of life, joy and holiness in Him. Purification is rarely pleasant in the moment, but in the long run, it’s always for our good and God’s glory.
Waiting strengthens - As our souls are revealed and purified, character, hope and strength is built. The prophet Isaiah said, “they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
We are six weeks in and at least 2 weeks to go before the dial begins to turn toward a new normal. The question is, what does waiting well look like today?