Are You in the "Waiting Place?"

In our family, we're doing a lot of waiting right now.  And it's not easy.

Waiting for ...

Calls and letters to let us know,

Emails telling us, "Yes" or  "No,"

College acceptances, financial aid, 

Job offers, that final grade...

 
While Dr. Seuss would tell us that this waiting place is not for us...

Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying.

You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing

(Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go)

This waiting place is for us.

The point of the waiting place isn't to get through it, but to get Jesus in it.

This Jesus, he's the one...

• whose yoke is easy, whose burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 
• who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies.  Matthew 6:25-34
• who works for those who wait for him.  Isaiah 64:4

So how do I not just get through the waiting place, but get Jesus in the waiting place?

First of all, as much as I love Dr. Seuss, don't follow his advice.

• Don't escape all that waiting and staying
• Don't seek the bright places where Boom Bands are playing

Instead of escaping the waiting; instead of seeking the bright places...


1. Pursue Jesus

• Pray

• Worship.

• Read your Bible

• Journal

 2. Care for yourself

• Eat well

• Go for a walk

• Spend time with family and friends

 3. Work hard at what's in front of you

This God who works for those who wait for him, 

he promises to meet those who work righteousness, 

those who remember him in all that they do.  

Isaiah 64:4-5

This is what we want in the waiting place.  We want Jesus to meet us.   

In the normal day-to-day work of your life, 

• as it is right now
• with no regard to what lies beyond the waiting place,
• work for Jesus. 

Work heartily, for Jesus.  Colossians 3:23 

And in all your working for righteousness, remember him. 

• Keep Jesus in the forefront of your thoughts.
• Keep Jesus in the first place of your affections.
• Keep Jesus as the focal point of every act of service you do for others.  

Whether you're like us right now, waiting for college letters and financial aid packages, or something even weightier, the treatment to work, the child to come home, the pink line to appear, the agency to call, you can do more than just get through the waiting place.  You can get Jesus in the waiting place.  

This is how we don't just get through the waiting place, but get Jesus in the waiting place.

• Intentionally pursue him through the disciplines of our spiritual life.  
• Take care of yourself, not trying to escape or seek bright places, but doing those things which are good for us
• Do the work that is before us right now and we do it whole-heartedly in Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus.   

I'd love to hear from you!  Are you in a "waiting place" right now?  Do you have unhealthy escapes or bright places you're seeking that  you need to give up ?  What can you do right now, in the waiting place, that will enable you to get Jesus in your waiting place? Leave me a comment or email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com.  I'd love to pray for you in your waiting place, and I'd love for you to pray me!