Pump It Up! Live Elated, Not Deflated Through Disappointing Daysනියැදිය

The ‘Seanic’ Route

‘Good things come to those who wait,’ says the Guinness advert. This may well be true, but waiting, in my opinion, is one of the most challenging things to do, especially during dull dinghy days. And it’s not just about waiting; we also know we are supposed to wait well.

I fully intend to wait well. I really want to trust God, to be expectant, full of hope and faith at the potential of what may be ahead. I can generally maintain this glowing, godly attitude for around five minutes before descending back into anger, frustration, and telling God he’s way off schedule!

‘God’s timing is perfect’ is another phrase we often hear in relation to waiting. Again, I believe this is true; however, most of the time whilst I’m waiting, it feels like God’s timing stinks if I’m brutally honest. I remember when it got to seventeen months that I’d been job hunting and had still found nothing. More days passed by as I scrolled job search sites, hoping to find something that would be suitable. Waiting that long felt cruel, pointless - a complete waste of time. I battled feeling forgotten and overlooked by God. More friends of mine started new jobs that suited them down to the ground - even during a pandemic, so why was I still on hold?

I came to realise that I needed to celebrate what God was doing in the lives of others and not let any bitterness towards God grow in my heart and mind. We must keep our focus on God and his goodness, and not let our circumstances dictate our view of him. He is good. We may still be floating around in a dinghy while others appear to be sailing in much more impressive vessels, but God’s goodness and mercy are bobbing along after us. For reasons unbeknownst to us, we remain in a state of bobbing because it’s the best place for us right now.

I don’t understand the ‘whys?’ around this waiting time, and I had enough ’why’s? to sink a million dinghies! But I had to learn submission to the perfection of God’s timing, when it felt like the opposite was true. The dinghy was doing its job of developing a depth of character in me that wouldn’t have been forged if it weren’t bobbing me painfully slowly round the ’seanic’ route.

Reflection

Bring your waiting-related anger and frustration to God, ask him to help you to be strong and take heart as you wait on him.