Always Emily

*Waiting is not easy. But – as someone who is very much in the middle of waiting – I know there are lessons to be learned in this space.

Sometimes the wait in itself can be enough to drag you down, make you tired. It can make everything feel heavy.

It’s not a season to throw away, or decide to do something in your own strength and pull a DIY project on God.

If you are feeling ready to throw in the towel, and give up hope, know there is goodness to be found here, strength to gain, and lessons to be learned.

1. Their win is not your loss, Romans 12:15-18
Watching someone get what you’ve waited for can be heart-wrenching. But others’ victories don’t take away from our own. While it hurts, we have two choices: sit in that hurt or view waiting as its own gain. When we wait, God leads us through a season where we need more reverence for Him than the end result. It requires us to sort our priorities. Do we serve the things we want or the Almighty God?

2. Lose your Pride, John 15:4
We love for people to know how hard we’ve worked and acknowledge how incredible we are. But waiting teaches us humility. If we could have done it ourselves, it would already be done. Waiting takes the situation out of our hands and places it in the power of the Father. Waiting demands that we surrender—that we cannot make anything happen without God.

3. There is Purpose, Romans 8:28
God does not withhold gifts to tease or punish us. He is intentional with every detail, including timing. The waiting is not for nothing. It could be to strengthen you, to bring you closer to Him, to allow time for details that are falling into place, or something better is on the horizon.

Even if we can’t see it yet, God is good and wastes nothing. Don’t let wounded feelings stand between you and Him. Lay them down at His feet and ask Him the purpose of this season.

The waiting season is difficult, but there can be so much beauty and intention in it. Know that if the Lord has asked you to wait, it is with good reason, even if we can’t understand it right now.

Don’t let your heart grow weary or take this time for granted. God is with you, wherever you are in your journey.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14.

Always,
Emily

*Originally published with Propel Women