The Sacred Pause: How To Steward The Waiting Seasons With Purpose
Recently, during the still quiet hours of the morning, one of the things which the Holy Spirit has been teaching me is the importance of embracing the waiting seasons of life. Now I know, “waiting” isn’t something that comes naturally for many of us. In this modern day world which often promotes instant gratification and instant satisfaction, “waiting” isn’t one of those attractive or appealing words which we like to hear. However, the truth is, “waiting” is a major part of life. All of us at some point in our lives will eventually be placed in what I call, “God’s waiting room”. In fact, some of us may very well be in that exact place right now.
For some of you, you may be waiting on and trusting God to one day fulfil His promise to you of one day blessing you with:
· a spouse;
· increased finances;
· a career opportunity which aligns with your vision;
· a deeper understanding of His Word;
· a bigger ministry;
· a wider audience;
· a family of your own;
· a globally recognisable brand, etc.
The question however is, how are you waiting?
You see friends, the most important question we ought to ask ourselves when placed in the waiting rooms of life isn’t, “how long is God going to keep me waiting”. Rather, the most important question we ought to ask ourselves is, “how should we wait?”
How we wait, and our attitudes in the waiting rooms of life, will always impact the final outcome. In fact, I personally believe that “how” we wait usually determines how long we wait. It is because of this that today we are going to take a look at some of the ways that we can steward the waiting seasons of life well and with purpose.
However, before we get there, let us look at some of the reasons why it is important to wait.
Why is it important to wait?
1. Waiting Renews our Strength
Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.
Have you ever wondered to yourself, why it seems as if more and more persons these days, are constantly talking about feeling tired and burnt out? Well, I don’t know about you, but I certainly have thought about this question before, and in thinking about it, one of the things that I have realised is that, many people these days are constantly feeling burnt out due to the fact that they are continuously going from one thing to another.
If we are completely honest with ourselves, sometimes after achieving a target or a major goal in life, we are immediately ready to move on to the next thing. Or sometimes, when we have been planted in a given season of life, we are ready to move on to the next season.
Take for instance the following:
· When we are children, we are so eager to finally become adults.
· When we are single, we are so enthusiastic to finally become married and have children of our own.
· Or, when we are in university, we are so eager to move on to finally start working so we can earn an income.
And while there is nothing wrong with any of these things, God sometimes needs us to slow us down, so we can renew our strength and so we don’t run out of “gas”.
You see friends, one of the reasons why society is so tired and burnt out these days, is because we often try to run ahead of God without waiting on Him. We often try to do everything by ourselves and in the timing we want. We regular try to depend on our own power. However, I am here to tell you, if you actually slow down and wait for God’s timing, it would aid in renewing your strength. Waiting, is for our benefit.
This leads into the second reason why it’s important to wait.
2. Waiting Develops our Character and Prepares Us For What’s Ahead
Often times in life, we feel as if the waiting seasons are there to hold us back from the promises and the blessings which lie ahead. However, the truth is, this is actually the opposite from the truth. The waiting seasons of life are actually there to prepare us and help us to get to our destination (ie. the blessings of life) safely.
One of the analogies and ways that the Holy Spirit has been teaching this principle to me is through the use of “Traffic Lights”. Now, as a licenced driver, one of my absolute least favourite things to meet up on while driving, is a pair of traffic lights with long lines of vehicles behind it. Sometimes I just feel as if those red and yellow lights are delaying me from getting to my destination.
However, recently, the Holy Spirit has been revealing to me that the purpose of those traffic lights isn’t to keep me back from my destination. Rather, the reason why those traffic lights were created, is actually to help me and the fellow pedestrians to get to our destinations safely. Those traffic signals were designed for the purpose of ensuring our safety and efficiency especially at intersections and locations which can sometimes be prone to accidents. Without those traffic lights, not only would we constantly be going, but we would also run the risk of getting involved in a collision, thus preventing us from getting to our final destination.
The same thing is true in life. In life, God doesn’t make us wait because he is trying to withhold something good from us. Rather, in life, God makes us wait because he is trying to ensure that we get to our destination safely. If we keep going and going without ever taking time to pause/stop, not only do we put the lives of fellow travellers at risk, but we also put ourselves at risk of burning out. This is why it is important to embrace the waiting seasons of life. The waiting seasons of life are there to prepare, preserve and equip us for the road ahead.
If we move too quickly, in a season when God has clearly given us the red light, not only do we run the risk of not making it to our destination, but, we also put the lives of others in danger.
3. Waiting Creates Space For Redirection
Sometimes what feels like a delay is actually a divine detour. God often uses waiting seasons to make room for redirection, healing, or new vision that would’ve been previously missed had we been in constant motion.
The beautiful thing about detours is that they enable us to see and experience new sights and scenery. In life, detours enable us to discover and learn new things about ourselves. Thus, don’t overlook the waiting seasons of life. Steward the waiting seasons well.
This brings me into the 5 ways that we can steward the waiting season of life well.
How To Steward The Waiting Seasons Of Life?
· Prepare for what you are praying for- If you're hoping for something—marriage, a job, healing, purpose—begin preparing your life as if it's coming. This isn’t being presumptuous or delusional; it’s faithful anticipation. Readiness honors the future even in the silence of the now.
· Practice gratitude- Even in seasons of delay, there are blessings present. Naming them daily can shift your focus from what’s missing to what’s already here. Gratitude transforms waiting into worship.
· Limit the comparison trap- In waiting seasons, it’s easy to feel “behind” when you see others moving forward. However, don’t compare your present chapter with someone else’s. Your journey is unique. Thus, avoid social media spirals or measuring your timing against someone else’s story.
· Maximize the place where you are- Focus on showing up for what’s in front of you—your relationships, your work, your health, your creativity. Doing the small, faithful things now, builds integrity and readiness for what’s ahead. Additionally, utilise the waiting seasons to invest in yourself, your growth and to strategize.
· Use the time to rest & reenergize- Rest is a part of the assignment. During the slow/waiting seasons of life, use the time to rest. This gives us the energy needed so that we can move forward in the next season with new vigour, passion and purpose.
