Standing in line at the grocery store recently I found myself wondering how it’s even possible in our hurry-up world to stand in line for anything. I’m the first person to claim the desires of my heart as soon as they come available. The thought is that we “deserve” whatever it is we are claiming and we shouldn’t have to wait for it. So, what does waiting well in any season look like?
If you are even somewhat aware of what is happening in our world, you must feel the tension that results from each person striving for what they want. Many times this happens at the expense of others. We have lost the fine art of waiting well in any season. We hang our hope on the latest and greatest. When things don’t go our way we fight back. We lack the hope and peace that should accompany any season of waiting. It doesn’t have to look like this. God is willing to show us in the middle seasons of challenge and waiting how to hold onto Him for all we need.
Waiting in the Wilderness
There is a both/and feeling when living in a season of waiting. There is the thought that you just want the wait to be over quickly. As hard as it is to walk through the wilderness, these are the times I have learned the most and grown deeper in my faith.
If I had to describe wilderness living, this is what I would say:
You are HERE, wherever HERE is. You see days stretching out before you and the days that are long gone, but you find that something is missing in your here and now. Today looks like yesterday and will probably look just like tomorrow. Routine becomes the norm but somehow a piece of you tries to grab onto the elusive thing that is just out of reach. Daily thoughts hover on the edge of believing there is more, but life weighs you down with the thought of trying to make it through. This is the wilderness. The place where we have the chance to leave the biggest footprint in our lives and the lives of others. This is where we meet God and find out He has been with us all along. This is wilderness living. And this is our Advent life.
The Advent Narrative
How do you wait well when every day looks like the one before in the wilderness? What do you do to maintain a forward motion when the end seems so far away?
So, how do we wait well? Is there an easy answer? Join me at Jeanne Takenaka’s where together we can learn more about wilderness living. Click HERE.
Book Release – It’s Here!
The Advent Narrative is here! This is your invitation to join the journey to become people of Advent as we live out the hope of Jesus daily. Hop over to Amazon to get your copy today. https://amzn.to/38m0bR8 #TheAdventNarrative Share on XBefore you go, I would love for you to take a minute and check out my book baby, birthed today on Amazon. The Advent Narrative: The Life You Didn’t Know You Were Already Living is a deep dive into the season of Advent that extends beyond the typical four weeks leading up to Christmas. Come join the journey with me as we discover what it looks like to become people of Advent as we live out the hope of Jesus every day of our lives. Click HERE.
Blessings,
I’ve been thinking of you all, week, Mary, at yet another beautiful milestone in your life. If we ever needed a reminder of waiting, hoping, resting, it’d be right about now.
Celebrating with you, friend. You are a blessing!
Your words mean so much to me. This book has taught me so much about myself and the journey of walking through wilderness seasons with hope. Thank you for always cheering me on.
Congratulations Mary, on this special day! Will continue to do my best too, to make sure my tribe knows about your book, too
You are so kind. Thank you for being on the team and encouraging me along the way.
Congratulations, book-mamma! I can’t wait to read your sweet offering!
Thank you, June! The journey has been long but the fruit has been sweet.
Looks lovely, Mary. 🙂 Can’t wait to get my copy. Shared via Twitter. Blessings!
You are too kind. Thank you, Patsy, for sharing about my book baby.