In life we have to wait for so many things. We wait for when a baby is born, we wait to get accepted into a college or university, we wait for our turn in lines at the store and in 2025, we wait for our packages from Amazon to be delivered. The waiting is hard and I believe now that we can get packages the same day we order them makes us so impatient. We are in a time where we want instant gratification- we want something and we want it now. So many times when I order something and it says it’s out for delivery, I want to know what street it’s on and how close is it to my house. But in reality, we don’t know that. I think about when I’m in a season of waiting from answers and clarity from the Lord, I want to know all the details and why! When we pray, God answers in one of these few ways, Yes, No, Not Yet. We don’t have the whole picture and we don’t know why in the moment when He says, No or Not yet. He is protecting us but also preparing us in those seasons of waiting. And like God always does, he gives us more than we can ask, think or imagine. As we are waiting, what’s should we do? Don’t get caught up and feeling like you can’t do anything while you wait for God. It can take, days, weeks, months and even years for answers. First, talk with God! He hears you and knows you. He knows the desires of your heart. Talk to Him like you would talk to a friend. Get into the Word! It’s always baffles me when we go through different trails in our lives and think that no one in Bible times experienced this and more often than not, they have. Worship the Lord! Praise Him for what He’s done and for what He’s going to do! It’s hard to sometimes do this when you’re in a difficult season but most times, it’s all that we have left to do is seeking the Lord. I think about when I reach out my hands in worship, some may look at me and wonder why. Sometimes we feel judge but we are not doing this for others but for our audience of 1! I stretch out my hands because it’s an act of giving all that I have to Jesus. Last summer when I served at a summer camp, one of summer staffers this so beautifully. She said how sometimes when we have our arms crossed in worship, it’s like you are holding back and that your heart posture and attitude is not fully on God. This convicted me. 

I know that in the past I was embarrassed by it. I also know that sometimes life just feels so down and hard and you just are existing and you don’t feel like worshipping. I know that there are  season of grief and hardship when you just want to just sit in church and need to reflect. You may not raise your hand, sing but your heart posture and attitude in those moments we should still have praise and thanksgiving! In everything, through anything and for everything, we should give thanks. One of my pastors often starts his prayers saying, “Lord, before we ask You for anything, we thank You for everything.” Yes we have desires but God knows what’s best for us in each season and what matters most is that we have Jesus Christ in our hearts! Scripture tells us in 1 

Thessalonians 5: 16-18 “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and everything give thanks for the this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Psalms 100 says “Make a joyful shout to the Lord all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord He is God it is He who has made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gate with Thanksgiving and into his court with praise, be thankful to Him and bless his name for the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations.”

Psalm 150 

Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him accordingly to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;

Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with stringed, instruments, and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

Even when we do not feel like it, we sing, we praise, we worship, we pray, we read His word! We are strengthened by doing this and we can have joy in the mist! In worship, we also serve the Lord. Everything we do we are to honor and serve the Lord. In the mist of pain, hardship, and waiting we are to go and serve Him in our church, our community and with His people! I find I get so much joy and gratitude in serving. I can be so tired doing this back to back but the strength of the Lord keeps me going. Here’s the beauty of waiting, seeing God’s hand in everything moment and situation. Seeing the little signs of why we are in this waiting. He is still good and faithful and we are to trust Him! Not our will, our plans, our timing but His will, His plans and His timing! If I didn’t have anything else in this world, i would still have Jesus!