The Waiting

"Monarch Butterflies" by Suzanne D. Williams

THERE IS A QUOTE my mother used to recite from time-to-time, “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day.” Not until recently did we find out it was from Shakespeare. It’s estimated the famous poet created 1,700 new words in the English language, among them “auspicious”, “gnarled” and “sanctimonious.” But, point is, time moves along and our lives move along with it.

To our advantage and disadvantage at times. Faith and patience, together, inherit the promise. It takes a time of waiting to receive what you are believing for. Only when we commit to wait, only when we commit to God’s timing over our own, do we see fulfillment. Often, we are like the cartoon which goes around. A man digs a hole, and he’s inches from a breakthrough to buried treasure when he gives up.

What we can’t see, the Savior sees. The precious Holy Spirit knows what we have need of to hang in there for the breakthrough. Yet, “hang in there” isn’t God’s will. That’s often what it feels like, and the truth is, that is the devil’s deception. We are not hanging by a thread at all but seated in heavenly places in Christ.

I had the Spirit speak a word to me. He said, “Stop looking up at the clouds and look down at the earth.” I admit I’ve had a hard time at this, seeing myself from God’s perspective. But it is seeing our lives as He does that gives us the endurance to wait.

There lies the true meaning of patience. It isn’t “barely getting by” until Jesus comes. We all look for His return. But there is power in the gospel now, today, and enduring with joy is the greatest blessing of it. A seed only becomes a harvest when it has time to grow, and though the farmer may enjoy the harvest, he is benefited by knowing the growth process. When he waits, aware of what this stage of growth means, then time’s steady pace becomes an advantage.

Endurance means we have the strength for the wait and the wisdom to know how to wait, know what to do while the time passes. Patience is calmness of spirit in the midst of turmoil. It is peace when the doctor’s report, when the bank statement, when our children’s grades are in the negative. Peace beyond understanding, or being in such a steady frame-of-mind that we cannot be swayed by anything.

There is great favor in waiting. There is grace. Because when we are waiting, the Spirit of God is working. To the contrary, when the Spirit of God is waiting, then we are doing all the work. Useless works. Yes, we put action to our faith, but often, that action is the wait itself. That we don’t push out ahead of God’s plan and instead commit ourselves to it, knowing He is always good, and He will complete what He has begun in us.

A butterfly emerges after time spent as a caterpillar and time spent in its chrysalis. We admire the butterfly but often ignore the caterpillar. We overlook the chrysalis. Yet God created the process of metamorphosis. Even when the butterfly emerges, there is time involved. They will hang upside down and dry their wings for hours sometimes. If they get out ahead and for some reason fall to the ground, it is rare they will survive. Why did God make them this way? Because He knew what the butterfly does not. Time builds character.

Time builds connection. In the waiting, we grow closer to God, more aware of His presence. More obedient to His nature. We let go of ourselves, who we think we are, and become who He desires us to be. Each day as time passes, we learn to wait well. To wait with patience, His presence within us, His truth on our lips. The fullness of our victory as assured in the waiting as it is that moment when it finally arrives.

“Love is large and incredibly patient.” (1 Corinthians 13:4 TPT)
“Love is never tired of waiting.” (1 Corinthians 13:4 BBE)

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." (Hebrews 10:36)

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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com