I’ve been saying this phrase for at least 10 years. In seasons of waiting – waiting on breakthrough, waiting on an answer, waiting on God to do something, waiting on a promise to be fulfilled, don’t waste time. Take steps of action in obedience. Or be still. Sometimes, in the quiet, doing nothing, you’ll hear answers loud and clear.
What does this look like? For me, different seasons of waiting call for different things.
For example, I’ve had unrest and a yearning for a different house with a yard in a neighborhood. I’m wanting the feeling of community (and an HOA with responsible neighbors). So I have been praying for months on what to do with my town home that I’ve been in for 3 years. So, what do I do while I wait on the green light to place it on the market? I saw several “things” around my house I wanted to fix or upgrade that would be of use to me and a future buyer. So in the waiting time, I didn’t waste time. I added a smart keypad to my front door. Of great use to me, and will be for future buyers. I had my house power washed. Of great use to me and made for great pictures when the photographer came to make the collage for the MLS website. I had a flower bed planted and new sod put down in our shared common area. Of great use to me and my neighbors and helps for curb appeal while selling. I also, decided to pick up and put up things that were unnecessarily out. Cleaning out clutter and organizing everything helps to ensure the house looks its best for staging for photos & when prospective buyers come to view the house. This also helps me have an easy and fast time to tidy up and leave when I’m notified there is a showing. Also, decluttering
All of these steps, were leading up to an answer. As soon as I called my realtor to say I was interested, she said yes, this is a great time to list. It’s a seller’s market, people are motivated to buy after quarantine/stay-at-home orders and more people are working remotely and interest rates are down.
My point is – for 6 months maybe a year ago- I started praying earnestly for an answer to sell or not to sell. So, in the waiting time, I did smart, strategic actions that led me to be ready when the answer arrived (revealed), and made sense. So now, I wait – again, on the Lord to provide the right buyer for my house and the right house for me.
Another example is doctoral school. I knew for the last 4 years, I needed to get my doctoral degree to advance in my institution, the field and career I am in. So, I looked into the requirements for applying to schools. I needed all of my transcripts from undergraduate and masters program. I needed three letters of recommendation. I needed to take the GRE. Three years ago, I requested all my transcripts and added them into this online portal for schools of public health. I then decided not to take the GRE and fall and summer and spring went by, year after year. Distractions like hurricanes, buying a house, leading/working on major policy campaigns all came and went for three years. Until COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders went into place. I found myself in March learning to balance my new work from home routine. I saw that bag of GRE prep books and note cards. And decided to pray again, if this was the time. And it was. So I refreshed my online application and saw that the UT Health School of Public Health lifted the GRE requirement, since the testing sites were closed due to coronavirus concerns. OH MY GOODNESS. My one road block – mentally – was removed. I went into quick action and three weeks later, I submitted a full application. And 5 days later, after submission, I was notified of my acceptance. Amazing. I start school in August 2020.
I would close with a few statements to re-emphasize that waiting time is not wasted time. For my friends who are believers and faith-based: Pray the promises of God. Do what He told you last. Sometimes He doesn’t give us what we ask, because we aren’t ready for it yet. So do what He told you last. Write down actions that you can do that lead to your BIG REQUEST – or your BREAKTHROUGH or you HEARTS DESIRE REQUEST. Be obedient to what He asked of you.
Don’t know where to start? Start with some spiritual basics. Examine the fruits of the spirit in your life: do you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22 – 23)? Start working on those things for the Holy Spirit to starting controlling your life and not your flesh. Are you putting on the full armor of God everyday (Ephesians 6:13 – 18)? Start there to battle the things of this world and have a clear mind and guarded heart. You’ll hear from Him. He’ll do something. Waiting time is not wasted time.
For my friends who don’t believe or follow the same God I do and love me just the same to read this blog 🙂 I so love you for that! If you are waiting on something, a shift, a breakthrough, healing, job change, an answer or a next step… I encourage you to write down and journal your end goal then list steps and actions that lead to that goal. What can you do on your “little step” list in your waiting time of getting to your end goal? It can be enlightening, fun or daunting. But at least you’ll see a plan while waiting. Some things you can do while waiting.
jennifer cofer 