Blessings in Waiting

Did you know that the word wait is repeated in the Bible 88 times (ESV)?  And that does not include any variations like waiting or waited. That's a lot!

It is also a word I do not particularly like a lot.  Does anyone?

I mean really, when someone tells us yes, great!  When they tell us no, well, at least we have an answer.

But, wait?  It is so ambiguous.  It requires much more action on our part.  Or inaction even.

Either way, as my kiddos used to say when they were little, "No thank you!"

It is one thing to say "no thank you" to a parent.  It is a another thing to say "no thank you" to God!

I think the thing I have to tell myself, repeatedly it seems these days, is that "wait" from God can be a blessing.  Or, at the very least, you can find blessing in the "wait."  Guys, sometimes I really need to find a blessing!

Let me tell you a quick story.  Grab a cup of tea and some chocolate.  Lots of chocolate!

We got the adoption referral for Colby Jose when he was four months old.  We brought him home when he was 21 months old.  For those not so fast at math like me, that was a 17 month WAIT!  I always tell people, I could have almost birthed TWO kids in that time.

If you are a visual type of person, here is what that looks like.

This is the first picture we saw of him.

This is what he looked like when we were finally able to board that airplane from Guatemala to the states.

That is a BIG WAIT! Colby said, "Wow, I grew!"

It was no fun, and hard, and heart breaking at times.  But there were blessings in our time of waiting.  Many!

For example, near the last few months of our wait, things had gotten pretty rough.  We thought we had lost Colby a few times when Guatemala shut its doors to international adoption, we stopped getting updates for a few months, and then we moved, leaving behind a group of some of our biggest cheerleaders and prayer warriors.  It was a lonely, and scary time.  Somewhere during that time flowers showed up at our door from a friend with a note of encouragement.  It made my day!  The following week flowers showed up again, this time from another friend.  By the time the third week of flowers showing up, I knew something was up.  Y'all, it continued to happen until that boy of ours came home.  Some cards were signed, some contained scripture, some just a few sweet words, but every week it was like a ray of hope in the darkness and just a reassurance that we were not alone!  A friend had rallied the troops to surround us with love!

It. Was. Amazing!

And to this day I am still in awe at how God used a sweet friend to bless us beyond measure in the waiting.

I will admit I do not prefer it when God says wait.  It is against my nature to wait.  Yes, waiting is hard.

Whether you are waiting for that child you long for.

Or for the perfect job.

Or for the spouse of your dreams.

Or for that degree you want to have.

Or whatever desire God has placed on your heart.

But know this, if you look hard enough, and with an open mind and an open heart, you WILL see the blessings in waiting.

They might not all be tangible blessings, but if God has said wait- there will be blessings that await you.  Look for them.  He has a better path and a better plan, even when we cannot see it at the time.

And praise the Lord, He will often use His people to bless us during that time.

I am thankful for those people in our lives- past, present and future!

Blessings,


Linking up with Caroline at The Modest Mom!