Waiting

So, here we are in the throws of winding down for the summer break and getting ready for the new school year. My boys will be in the same school building for the first time in years, for this one year. Middle school. Be still my heart...

Right now, at our house, we are in a period of waiting. I dislike waiting with a passion. It reminds me that I am not the one in charge. I have to wait for something to happen, someone else to do something. It is so frustrating.

I remember when I turned 30 years old. I was single and that was not on my list for my 30th birthday. My expectation, up to that point had been by 30, I would be dating the man that I would marry and have a family with. But alas, that had not happened. Well, I had met him, but I didn't know that he liked me in a romantic way. We were good friends but that was all, at least as far as I knew.

I had to wait another 2 years to discover that this guy was really into me. It was one of the most painful and dark times in my life as I was waiting for the Lord to make things happen. I clung to Jeremiah 29:11.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I was not until I read, and took to heart, the next few verses that things started to happen. And I have no doubt that if I remember that during this time, once again, the waiting will become bearable.
Vs 12-15 says, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. If you seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."

You see, I had to turn my focus away from myself, what I wanted, what I thought that I needed. I had to focus on God. I had to seek HIM with all my heart. I had to surrender what I wanted and find out what He wanted for me. I had to line up my will with his.

Was it easy? Nope.

In my case, I had to finally say, "Ok, I will stop pining for a man and start serving the Lord." It really was that simple. I started finding new ways to serve Him at my church. When I did that, I noticed that my friend was there was well. We were serving God, learning about him and spending a whole lot of time together in the process. We were growing in our faith both separately and together. So when he did finally let me in on the secret that he REALLY LIKED me. I was ready.

I believe that my waiting then could have been much longer, if I had not taken my focus off of what I wished for and turned it to how I could serve.

So, that is what I am trying to remember today, as I wait for God to move or move me. I am turning my focus back to him and watching for where He is working so that I can join him there.  Trusting that the rest will fall into place.

What are you waiting on today? What do you think God says you should be doing in the meantime?