Dr. Suess described it in "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" The waiting place is where everyone is just waiting...
"Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting."
Sometimes it feels like we spend a disproportionate amount of time waiting. I know several people who are waiting right now--waiting for healing, a job, a baby, direction, a big date, a change in life that God has shown them that hasn't happened yet.
It is so hard to wait! Especially when we know that we've clearly heard from God, and we're just waiting for it to be fulfilled--and it's an exciting time. Or sometimes the waiting is scary, like when my grandpa was in hospice or when we knew that the fetuses inside me weren't viable, but weren't going anywhere either.
One thing that encourages me when I'm in a waiting time is Noah. Ok, trivia time: how long was Noah in the ark? I'll post the answer in the comments section >:) Noah knew what God had promised him, but he had to endure ridicule from neighbors, the trauma of watching almost the entire world perish, and the wondering of when they were going to be able to get out of the boat before the promise was fulfilled.
Psalms can be helpful, too, when you're waiting. Go to Biblegateway.com and search for wait, and click on the "more results" towards the bottom of the page. Then read the Psalms that talk about waiting. I think I read one of them every day while waiting for the miscarriage to happen, and every day God showed me a new way to wait--laying out your requests in prayer; trusting, hoping, persisting; being patient.
And if you're looking for a fun movie to bide your time while you're waiting, check out the Princess Bride: Inigo has been searching for the six (well, eleven)fingered man for 30 years; Westley gets upset with Buttercup for not waiting for him (despite her belief that he's dead); and the 30 minute wait for full potency (don't want to give it away, so you'll have to watch the movie for that one!)
Thanks, Lord, that you are over and above all things, and that you are bigger than time. Help us to wait patiently and seek you out in all things.
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3 comments:
So how long was Noah on the ark? A full year. Noah entered the ark in the 600th year of his life, on the 17th day of the 2nd month (Genesis 7:11-13). Noah left the ark on the 27th day of the 2nd month of the following year (Genesis 8:14-15).
A lot longer than the 40 days of rain that first comes to mind!
I figured it was more than 40 days, but I was not sure on the exact number. Good to know!
Also, I was thinking about waiting for a "date". You know, like a "hot date" out on the town with a special someone I have not met yet. Then, I realized you meant like a calendar date. Never the less, I will add waiting for "hot date" to my own list. hehe... :)
Perhaps in the waiting comes the character building that we all need. If everything was just handed to us when we asked, there would be no need to fully rely on God...right? Didn't say it was easy though!
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