WaitingSample

Waiting Is Never Wasted

Waiting is hard. It abrades our obsession to be in control, prolongs uncertainty, exposes our vulnerabilities, and often leaves us feeling powerless—thus, the idiom of "doing something is better than nothing." What if we viewed waiting not as wasted time, but as a valuable period to take stock, contemplate, then engage in meaningful prayer? Then waiting would become an active exercise in cultivating patience, trust, and reliance on God’s timing and provision.

When introduced to the Japanese tradition of "ma," my hierarchy of productivity was inverted. "Ma" refers to the space or interval between things. It’s the pause between musical notes, the silence between words in a conversation, and the stillness between movements in a dance. In "ma," there’s a sacredness—a recognition of the value that silences or spaces present to us. In traditional Japanese gardens, "ma" holds that the space between the objects is as important as those objects.

In today’s psalm, David presents waiting as the active anticipation of God’s goodness to be revealed. David is not merely idly twiddling his faith-thumbs but intentionally being open and receptive to God’s goodness in his life.

Just as the intervals between musical notes reveal melody and emphasize rhythm, waiting on God prepares us to receive His promises.

When the waiting seasons come, God invites us to resist filling the space with anxious business. Instead, we can quiet our own voice and listen attentively for His.

Written by DWAYNE JEFFRIES