When You Don’t Know What You’re Waiting For

“What do I do, God? What would You have me do in this situation?” 

I wish I could tell you those questions, repeatedly and sincerely prayed, were met with a booming voice from heaven that said, “This is My beloved will in which I am well pleased; go and do it, honey child,” but, alas, that hasn’t happened.

Instead, after writing those questions in my journal, I read Psalm 27 and was met with words that have become as familiar as my afternoon cup of coffee:

“Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!” -Psalm 27:14

Scripture, man. It’s like yeast: alive and active. It’s like a fog light: searching and exposing. It’s like a sword: sharp and piercing.

A couple of observations from this verse:

1. Let = choose to
2. Repeated phrases = important

I’m in a waiting season. I don’t know where I’ll be next year (or if God wrote me into His story that is the year 2017). I don’t know what God is doing right now. I don’t know what He’s asking from me except this: trust. obey. rest. repeat.

Things I’m learning in the waitlands (not wastelands because God isn’t wasting a thing here):

Waiting is not an excuse for obedience here and now.

Waiting is not code for “figure this out on your own.”

Waiting is not justification for ignoring what/where God is leading in hopes that He changes His mind and asks of you something easier.

Waiting is not passive.

Waiting is a verb that not only reminds us to wholly lean on Jesus’ name but to stay active and obedient in the last thing He’s called us to do.

Maybe you’re like me and you don’t know with certainty what you’re waiting for, just that you are to wait for now.

Regardless of the circumstances, we can have confidence in who we are waiting for.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” -Psalm 37:7a

Not only that, we can have confidence in who we are waiting with.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10

In this period of waiting, we must intentionally resist anxiety and fiercely stake our hope not in what we can figure out but in the One who knows the end from the beginning and who soaks His love into our every breath.

My hope for us is that, instead of worrying and fretting over what may or may not happen in the next season (or the next), God would find us active and faithful in our waiting.

“Worry springs from not being convinced of a sovereign God’s absolute love for you. Worry disappears when you realize that God loves you unfailingly and will let nothing interrupt His plans for your good.” -J.D. Greear