Do you hate to wait?

I was greeted with this dreaded green screen this morning with the never-ending white-dotted spinning circle saying: Please wait. Groan…

Our Culture Trains Us to Hate Waiting

Here in the United States, have you noticed how often you hear the phrase, “Real quick,” throughout the day? Pay attention. It’s constant. You’ll even catch yourself saying it.

Let me do this, real quick. Let me show you this one last thing real quick. Hold on for a quick second. Quick, quick, quick.

The Need for Speed

We have fast food restaurants. Speed passes through tollways. Instant mashed potatoes. Microwaves to cook food fast. Apps to save from waiting for a table at a restaurant. You can even become an overnight success. (Spoiler alert on that last one. Rarely if ever does that happen.)

Then there’s instant gratification – credit cards allow us to get anything NOW, even if we can’t afford it.

None of life’s inventions and conveniences are bad, however, they can condition us to hate to wait.

It’s Hard to Wait

The truth is, that living our lives requires times of waiting. You wait in traffic. Wait for test results. Wait for healing to happen. Wait for decisions from others that are out of your control. Wait for babies to be born. Wait for your business to grow. Waiting is actually Step 4 in The Four Steps to FLOW.

Waiting is Part of All Life

Living in St. Louis, I’m fortunate to enjoy all the seasons. Waiting is a natural part of nature. It’s reflected so clearly in the seasons.

The trees and other perennials look like they are dead when winter sets in. But below the soil, life still lurks in the plant’s core and roots. It’s just conserving its energy during this time of waiting.

If bouts of warmer weather hit early, a plant can be tricked into blooming too early. If the cold returns, it may not fully recover, because it didn’t wait for its intended time.

This waiting is just part of a cycle of activity, growth, and waiting.

 Accept Waiting When You Wait on God

This one of my favorite Bible verses:

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. Isaiah 40:31 King James Version (KJV)

This verse inspired the words behind the God Note from my book God Notes – Daily Doses of Divine Encouragement – Wait. If you find yourself waiting, particularly waiting for a situation or relationship to be resolved, I hope that the words God put on my heart will touch your heart too.

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WAIT

Frustration happens easily when you have to wait. You live in a material world where you must wait.

You wait in a doctor’s office.

You wait at a red light.

You wait for test results.

Don’t allow anxiety and stress to fill moments when you must wait. Use this time to connect with Me.

When you ask Me for help with a sincere and grateful heart on big plans and dreams that you have, I may ask you to wait.

I am working behind the scenes on your behalf. A worthwhile request takes time.

Wait, but don’t be idle.

I will renew your strength.

As you wait, I can’t wait to show you what great things I have in store for you as you trust in Me.

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I have found when I let go of wanting to control outcomes and surrender my anxiety and worry to God, I find peace and strength in those times of waiting.

While waiting can be stressful or annoying, stop the need to hate to wait. Accept waiting as just part of life. Because it is.

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There are 365 more words of encouragement in God Notes. Find and purchase for yourself and a friend on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Or pick up your signed copy at the Joy And Flow Store.

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Graduation, those in the hospital, Christmas, birthdays. Give the gift of encouragement.