Seasons of waiting, oh how they can be challenging and seem to last a lifetime. All of us are waiting for that particular prayer to be answered. We cling on to the hope that maybe today will be the day where I see God perform that miracle or meet that need. But when we don’t see that prayer being answered or see it even coming close it can lead to seeds of doubt and feelings of giving up. I’ve come to realize seasons of waiting can be a beautiful journey if we allow our faith to arise and turn to our Heavenly Father. Waiting can be defined as “to remain in readiness for some purpose”. In other words, to remain ready in the posture of receiving what God has for you, which is wrapped in purpose. To eagerly wait and to have full confidence with unwavering faith that God will answer that prayer in its due season.
Recently I planted some seeds into little pots in my backyard. After I put the layer of soil over the seeds, watered them, and placed them over in a sunny corner of the yard, the waiting began. I was full of excitement and was eagerly waiting to see the first sprouts emerge! The first few days I woke up and ran over to those little pots and didn’t see anything, yet I remained hopeful! After days of seeing no growth I began to get discouraged and wonder to myself, “Did I do anything wrong?” Or “Did I put in too much water?” .Well a few hours later after seeing no growth, I checked again and there was a tiny green sprout! I thought to myself “Delaney why did you get discouraged, it was only four days! You couldn’t wait four days!?” Then I thought to myself, do I even handle seasons of waiting the way I should after making my request known to God? The answer to that question was a big No. So I looked to the Lord and asked Him to show me how I can become better in the waiting. The main issue that the Lord pointed out to me was my level of faith, which was frail. I was walking by what I saw instead of walking by faith. I was allowing what I saw be indicators if God was even working. What we see in the natural isn’t always an indicator of what’s happening in the unseen. There’s more happening in the unseen then we realize because God is working on our behalf and fighting for us! God hears us the first time we cry out and pray to Him. God’s timing has no flaw and the absence of that prayer being answered doesn’t mean He’s not working. In the waiting there is an invitation for our faith and prayer life to strengthen. In that we can put complete trust in the Lord and let God’s past faithfulness give us hope. Remaining ready for our answered prayer shows our confidence in God. Sometimes we are not waiting in the posture of readiness to receive what we ask of God. While waiting we should be in the posture of confidence instead of unbelief or discouragement. In the waiting there’s promise. There’s a promise that what we ask for will be given to us. The Bible is full of scriptures showing us the promise that if we come to God with faith He will give us what we ask for.
-“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” I John 5:14-15
-“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22,
Sometimes the answer to our prayer may look differently then what we expect or hope for but will always be better. God’s ways are perfect and purposeful. These little plants showed me that first my faith needed to sprout before I could see the harvest of what I planted. Now that plant is thriving and growing wild in my backyard full of bright yellow blooms. The harvest of those little seeds are now reminding me to remain faithful and to be ready to receive while waiting for God, no matter how long it takes. What I already prayed for is promised and it’s coming right on time and full of purpose.
So sweet friend, I’m praying for you! God hears you and knows what you need. He’s working on it in the unseen. The harvest is coming and it’s better than you can ever have hoped for. So while God is working, let your faith sprout and remain ready in the waiting.
Delaney Holley 