Who Are You Going To Be While You're Waiting

Last Sunday at church, preacher was out of town but Quinton stepped in.
Quinton is not a pastor, but a writer who is a well studied and well versed christian. He discussed how he has been out of a job for more than eight months. That this waiting for work has been hard.

Finally he heard about a writing job, called, and got a meeting. He went in and saw the guy had bibles, Dallas Willard books and other theology books all lined up on his shelves. He handed the meeting over to God, whatever he wanted would be best. The meeting went very well, the best it could have gone. He got the church prayer chain going, everyone praying he would get that job. He did everything right.

Guess what? He didn't get the job.

He wasn't happy to get back to the waiting, in fact things were getting tense as the money was running out. If you think about it, we are usually in a state of waiting. Waiting for a check to come, a decision to be made, a job to happen, waiting in the carpool line, to see if your kids get into school, for the baby to come.... We are waiting all the time. In fact, we spend more time waiting for things to happen then on the actual event. Think about Christmas. We wait all year for that and it's only one day!

If we know we are going to be in a constant state of waiting...time to make a decision (and it is a choice). Who are you going to be while you're waiting?

Quentin then said that the best state of being in this time is to be in "Hopeful Expectation". Knowing that God is working for good on your behalf. Not worrying, but wondering what will happen. This is a tall order for me. I like to be in hopeful expectation, but hate to be disappointed when it doesn't work out. Quentin said that we are all God's promise, but that the job he was interviewing for wasn't his. God had promised that job to someone else, and when his job did come, someone else wouldn't get it either because it was promised to him.

So back to the question then: Who are you going to be while you are waiting on what has been promised to you? Worrying? Or Wondering? In Hopeless expectation? Or Hopeful expectation?

8 comments:

Claire said...

Thank you for posting this. I really needed to hear it and thought of Prov. 25:11 - "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."

bevy said...

What a gift. Your friend has given you - and us! Makes me also remember my favorite verse, Jeramiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Karen said...

Such a wonderful post! I tend to worry but often have to remind myself that God has a plan and everything will work out and be okay. Hope you and your beautiful family have a Merry Christmas!

Karen

Pat & Amy Plus 1 said...

What a great post. Thank you! I really feel like God has been knocking on my door about this subject.

I just got done reading this article the other day: http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/relationships/inside-god-box-00000000045743/index.html
and now your post! It's hard to remember that God has bigger/better plans for us even if we don't realize them yet. And that we should give our worries to Him!

Thanks again for the reminder, Mrs!

Sheila Fretz said...

Thank you for sharing!!!

Jessica Ryan said...

Fabulous... I hate waiting but it does make us stronger, doesn't it?!
TFS!

Kate Lewis said...

This is the best post I have read in a long time. Thank you for reminding us how often we have the chance to be a true Follower - not just when we are waiting on something "big", but everyday!
Great, great post!!!

Suburban Princess said...

Interesting question. I always say good things come to he who hustles while he waits. :O) But maybe he didnt get the job because he wasnt qualified? Someone more qualified applied?