Waiting on God: Shifting Our FocusShembull

Waiting is a part of life. We wait in traffic on our way to and from work or school, in line at our favorite coffee shop, and for packages to arrive on our doorstep. Sometimes waiting can be frustrating, and other times it can be filled with great anticipation - like a young child waiting for Christmas morning.

However, most of us will do just about anything to avoid waiting. In our minds, we sometimes kick and scream and act like a two-year-old when moments of unplanned waiting inevitably creep into our day. There is just no way to avoid waiting altogether.

But what happens when you find yourself in a season of waiting on God? When weeks, months, and even years go by, and it doesn't seem like anything is happening.

Maybe your season of waiting is a desire God put in your heart many years ago that has yet to become a reality. Or perhaps it is a future season of life that seems so much more exciting than the one you currently find yourself in. Or maybe still, it is a dream God birthed in your mind. You can visualize a clear picture of it, but under the dark cloud of your current circumstances, you can't see how your dream could ever come to pass.

The truth is that God has a plan and a purpose for your life, but He often only reveals it one step at a time. Henri Nouwen once wrote, "The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark. When we are able to take the next step with the trust that we will have enough light for the step that follows, we can walk through life with joy."

In times of waiting, Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us of where our focus should be, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God." (emphasis added) Truthfully, waiting on God can often feel like wandering around in a dark room alone with nowhere to focus your eyes.

Over the next few days, we will consider four ways you and I can shift our focus when we find ourselves in a season of waiting on God. Shifting our focus allows us to continue to trust in the goodness of God, even when things feel dark and uncertain. And trust in the goodness of God makes it possible to experience joy as we walk through seasons of waiting.