this is still holy ground
Thriving in Seasons that Don’t Feel Spiritual or Strong."
I’m currently in a long season of waiting. Years now to be exact. I’m not sure if you can relate, but these seasons often feel empty and pointless especially when God has given you a very specific and powerful promise. Doesn’t it feel like life is full of waiting? We wait to turn 16 so we can finally drive. Then we wait till we graduate high school and get to be on our own. Then we wait to graduate from college so we can get into the “real world”. Then we wait for “the one”, then the wait for the ring, then the wait for the two pink lines, and then we WAIT for the next big thing and so on until we reach Heaven.
These long seasons have become a trend in my life in the last 10 years. Sometimes it even feels like God has maybe forgotten about me and is holding out. (Galatians 6:9) Why would He give me a promise and then not fulfill it right away? Why would He cause what feels like suffering in the waiting? And if I can be totally honest, these waiting seasons make me begin to doubt if I even really heard from the Lord.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
But maybe that’s the point. Maybe God wants to use our waiting and doubt to lay a foundation for trust and hope to grow. Scripture tells us that we should glory in our sufferings because it will produce perseverance, character and hope! (Romans 5:3-5)
What if the waiting is necessary for us to receive our promise? And what if instead of wondering and asking God when the promise will come we ask Him what He wants to show us in the now. What if the waiting is the Holy Ground? (Exodus 3:5)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last few years is that God doesn’t waste a single moment or season of our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11) If we allow for hope and trust to replace our doubt and frustration we make room to see Him moving and working in our lives even in the every day mundane situations that don’t feel so spiritual. He’s using the in-between to mold you and prune you so that you can receive your promise at the right time! (2 Peter 3:8-9) And that’s one of the many wonderful characteristics of God. He doesn’t operate on our time and He doesn’t view time the way we do. But He IS always right on time!
I was recently reading Luke 5 when Jesus tells Simon to let down the nets. I had read this story many times but this time what really stood out to me was Simon’s response. He tells Jesus they had been working hard all night and caught nothing but because Jesus said so, he would do it again. (Luke 5:4-6) This convicted me in the best way.
Simon tells Jesus they had been working hard all night and caught nothing but because Jesus said so, he would do it again.
What if this was our response to the Lord when He asks us to continue to do the same thing we’ve been doing over and over? And our only responsibility from Him is to be obedient and seek Him. Because like the disciples experienced, if we’re obedient and trusting in what He asks of us, He will over flow our nets! (Luke 5:6-7)
I read a quote that went along with this scripture that said, “He doesn't just want to get us from one side of the lake to the other. He uses the middle.” So in those “middle” seasons, let’s seek Him more than ever before. Let’s go to Him with our frustrations and questions. Let’s allow Him to take up room in our heart to show us how to wait well and prepare our hearts for what He has in store for us. (Hebrews 10:23)
He doesn't just want to get us from one side of the lake to the other. He uses the middle.
Maybe you’re waiting in a mountain full of diapers and sleepless nights, or continuing to be diligent at a job you don’t love and you know isn’t your forever, maybe you’re single and wondering if there really is someone out there, or you’re paycheck to paycheck hopeful for financial breakthrough. Whatever it is, praise Him and thank Him from where you are!
He sees you, sister! He has not forgotten you. (Psalm 9:10) There is a time for everything, including the waiting! (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Be encouraged, friend. God doesn’t waste a single moment or tear.
