Time Spent Waiting Is Never Time Wasted

Sometimes God calls us to wait.

Wait for healing. Wait for leading. Wait for fulfillment of a promise.

I waited more than four years for my daughter to take her first step, even longer for her to say her first word. 

I waited many more years than that to get a glimpse of the plan God has for her. 

I will be waiting until I get to Heaven to meet my five unborn children. 

When it comes to waiting, we’re all asked to partake. Sometimes though that in-between time can seem like a waste.

However, I believe God allows a period of limbo for several reasons:

• to bring us to the end of ourselves
• to prepare others
• to allow us time to develop skills and character traits 
• to show Himself faithful in the simple and mundane
• to orchestrate the proper conditions.

God allows a period of limbo for several reasons. Trust Him! Click To Tweet

Think about it. 

Purpose of Waiting

Young David would have never been able to handle all God asked of him as king if he hadn’t grown in wisdom and character and strength in the years leading up to his coronation (1 and 2 Samuel). And the Israelites had to be ready for a new king.

The woman with bleeding problems would likely not have had enough faith to believe a simple touch of Jesus’ hem would heal her if she had not been bleeding for 12 long years (Mark 5:25-34). And the Savior’s miracles needed to be performed at the right time to be preserved for all generations.

Moses needed the years of maturity to endure all he would go through in leading the Israelites to the Promised Land (Exodus). And the Israelites had to endure great hardship to be willing to leave their homes in the first place. 

Sarah and Abraham needed to develop a history of God’s faithfulness to trust Him in the outlandish promises He made them. And Sarah needed to be well beyond childbearing years before giving birth to Abraham’s heir so all the glory would go to the Lord (Genesis 17-21). 

Scripture is filled with stories of long waits. But those waits had purpose. Ours do too.

Trust God with an expectancy that He will act, that He is acting, even when it seems you are in limbo. He is faithful to fulfill every promise He has ever made, no matter how long it ends up taking. 

Trust God with an expectancy that He will act, that He is acting, even when it seems you are in limbo. Click To Tweet

And that in-between time? It’s never wasted. That’s the time God uses to prepare us for the fulfillment of His promises. 

God uses that in-between time to prepare us for the fulfillment of His promises. Click To Tweet

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14

Reflections: Has there ever been a time in your life when it seemed God would never act? If that time of limbo has been fulfilled, what did you learn or how did you grow from it? If not, how can you open yourself up to receive all He has for you in the in-between? I’d love to hear how He is moving in your life! Leave a comment. 

I am always thrilled to link up with Suzie Eller for #livefreeThursday and this week’s prompt, “Limbo.” Also check out Suzie’s 30 Days to Life Shaking Study. It’s not too late to join! Click on the title or image to find out more or sign up.

By His grace ≈

Julie