Walking and Waiting
I came across this quote in my devotions yesterday: "Waiting is much more difficult than walking." I heartily agree with that statement, and so does Barnabas. In fact, he demonstrated this very principle on our morning walk.
Our dog is all about the go. He loves to walk and hike, to explore and sniff. Unfortunately for him, our morning walks involve crossing a few busy streets, which means we have to stop and wait for traffic to clear. Barnabas spent some time roaming the streets before we adopted him, so he has great respect for traffic and knows to stay clear of cars. That being said, the process of waiting to cross the street nearly drives him crazy. As each car passes, he looks up at me like, "Can we go now?" If I give him the go ahead, he takes off like a horse out of the gate. If I tell him we have to wait a little longer, the look he throws my way is comical because it reminds me a sullen teenager who isn't getting his or her way. (If you've ever owned a dog, you know how much they can act like children.)
To be honest, though, I understand how Barnabas feels. It's been nearly two months since Jason and I surrendered to go to the mission field, and since that time, it feels like we've done nothing but wait. Yes, we did the interview with the mission board, but that's about all. Right now, we're waiting for the executive board meeting a week from now to confirm whether or not we've been accepted. After that, we'll have to wait another two weeks for orientation. Then, who knows what other waiting steps there will be?
Let's face it, life involves a lot of waiting, and most of us would rather be walking or working. Waiting is hard. Waiting feels pointless, like we're wasting time. Waiting often causes our hearts to grow weary and our faith to grow weak. But waiting is necessary. Certain things can't be rushed. The good things in life take time. And so, we must wait. Even when it's difficult. Even when we'd rather be doing something else.
When God puts us in a holding pattern, we can trust He has a good reason. Don't try to hurry things along. Enjoy the journey, even the pit stops, and thank the Lord for the strength He gives to those who wait on Him. After all, when He finally gives the green light, we'll need all the strength we can get, right?
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”