“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.” Proverbs 3:13-14
Sue Monk Kidd, author of Secret Life of Bees, The Mermaid Chair and numerous other works, discusses the importance of waiting and listening in her book, When the Heart Waits, Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions.
With her usual wit, humor & intellect, Kidd presents the idea of how we are a fast-food society, programmed for speed & we must learn to pull away from all of that in order to wrap into the waiting stage God demands of us in order to transform into the new creations we are called to be.
But the problem is, waiting goes against what we hear from everywhere else: “Do more, make more.” “Work hard, play hard.”
In order to transform into the version of ourselves we know exists within us and who we’ve always dreamed of being, we have to turn away from all of the demands of the world and tune into a greater power directing our lives.
I’ve experienced many seasons of waiting. Waiting I neither wanted or enjoyed fully as it was taking place, but even through the discomfort and as it was occurring, I could tell something was shifting inside me. That I was growing. That while the waiting felt unnatural and uncomfortable and unknown, those things were also the source of strength found during these seasons, which inevitably, we will all encounter: A season of waiting in which you are being called out of the routine you designed and into an unknown one.
At first, it doesn’t feel right. And often it brings up feelings of negative emotions.
But once the initial discomfort settles, the waiting becomes easier. It becomes something else. An equipping, transforming from passive to active. No longer are you waiting for something to happen, instead you are waiting. It becomes what you’re doing. And in that doing, you gain strength. You gain wisdom. You gain patience. And endurance. And steadfastness. You learn about joy. And develop gratitude. So when it’s time to stop waiting, you’re ready and able to fully receive all the joy and light life has.
It’s during the waiting, we begin to really listen. To tune out the world and tune into what God is dreaming about for us. What’s on His heart for ourselves, our family, our community, our country.
Let us be active in our waiting and seek all that God has for us.
From my heart to yours,
Amanda
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
