Are you waiting on something?

"You have been waiting, but you haven't been patient." These are the words of Dr. Becton when I was complaining about waiting on something. I was soon reminded of my Dad's frequent words to me as a child when he was making me wait on something I wanted at that instant, "Patience is a virtue, Ebony." At the time, those words were empty or like nails on a chalkboard. I was thinking: A). I'm three & I do not know what you're talking about. B). Just give me what I want...now...well, please Dad. I did not say much to Dr. Becton's weighty sentence because I never really dissected the difference between WAITING vs. WAITING with Patience. I thought not responding would stop Dr. Becton from talking :)...but she continued with the words of the late Pastor Murphy Pace, "Faith does not work without patience." I knew God was teaching me with these words & the childhood reminder, a lesson in this process of Faith. So, as usual, I try to share the good nuggets with my HERspace crew. This month's lesson, don't just wait, wait well. Waiting well is waiting with patience.

The Waiting Room...

Faith is a lot like the waiting room. In the first HERspace Blog article of this year (Read it HERE), I mentioned that the Father shared this year is going to take Faith. Although we will have many promises that will come to fruition, Faith is a requirement for 2022. A requirement to my understanding is, that whatever you are set to do or get will not be allowed if you do not do what is being asked or told. Well...Faith (also my words) constitutes "believing" wholeheartedly God's words that are yet to be seen naturally. As quoted, Faith doesn't work without patience. Let's dissect waiting vs. patience.

• Patience - taking on the attitude of rest and calm despite obstacles (my definition).

• Patience - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset (Webster's definition).

• Waiting without patience ~ is used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen (Webster's definition).

To take delays (actual or perceived -- because at the moment they both feel the same), problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed, frustrated, or anxious, there must be a level of trust with the result.

Get in mind something you are currently waiting on that you REALLY desire big or small. Or think of your young child or a child you may know, and someone or something is in the way of them getting their desired "thing" now.

For a child, it could be attending an amusement park, for an adult - a home purchase, an elder - healing. Future attorney - the bar exam. An educator - summer break :). Degrees, marriage, vacation, solid friendship, receiving loan money that is passed its date of matriculation, or just getting out of a long line. In this life, we all are, had to, or will wait on something or someone.

Let's use heavy traffic as an example of waiting. As the minutes and sometimes hours proceed, people often lack patience (rest & calm in waiting). Some people deter by trying to find another route, others wait it out but find different things to do with their time, others think of different things they could be doing and get angry. Unfortunately, some individuals allow their anger to turn into road rage that ultimately harms other people also in the same wait. Some people make use of their time and talk to God, to the people in their car, or maneuver and have meetings. Others just sit still and/or in silence.

With the above scenarios, one can identify who waited with patience, who was just waiting, and those that took matters erroneously into their hands. In each instance, everyone had to wait. No one was exempt from waiting, even if a different or faster route was found.

Whether you are experiencing a Divine Delay (i.e. orchestrated by God), Erroneous delay (i.e. hindered {not stopped -- only you have the power of stopping yourself} by man, interference of your hands, or something else) -- God is still in control when you allow Him to direct you in traffic (vicissitudes of life personified). We have to endeavor to wait well. We do this by:

*Waiting with patience (rest and calm);

*Making GOD our focus in the wait;

*Trusting He will direct our path along the way; &

*Even will fight for us when necessary.

It's not a surprise to me that today's scripture of the day on the Bible app is Psalms 40:1-2. Waiting well does not mean you disregard your feelings/emotions. Ignoring your human condition results in you not being well and you may become unhealthy. Be honest with the Lord regarding the waiting, just do not park in this place. Choose to be patient by resting in what He said, having His word on repeat, and "choosing" to be calm in the pits & processes of life knowing the Lord will revive you again.

Psalm 40:1-2

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

In the aforementioned example of my Dad reminding me patience is a virtue. What would often bring about trust in me knowing I was going to get whatever my Dad said, was when he would tell me he was going to do something. This often made my childlike anxiousness of wanting that "thing" now subside...Unless he took too long or went beyond the time he said my promise would arrive. If my Dad delayed, I knew he was still going to make good on his promise because he said it.

The Father (God) wants us to have this childlike Faith. Where His words, and intentionally reminding ourselves of what He has promised, makes all concerns completely subside. Even if it is delayed -- seemingly (being impatient), erroneously (the Lord will fight for us if we only are still) ~ Exodus 14:14) or actually (Divine Delay), God's got us! Just rest. Exercise patience in this wait by being calm and resting in Him doing what He said He's going to do.

The Lord wants us to wait with patience.

Yesterday, I heard the word QUALITY CONTROL. When I went to study the term, it is the process that packages, produces, and other consumer items must pass this inspection before the public consumes or uses the products. In layman's terms, the process before public production is to catch any mess, and fix the issue by returning it if there is any to ensure good quality.

God wants us to become our best selves in this waiting room. He is exposing traps while removing any potential hinderers so we can run our next race with supernatural speed!

My prayer for us...

I was taught by many Spiritual elders not to pray for patience or you pray for trials. Instead, I'm praying that God allows us all to adopt an attitude of rest and calm. We have to wait anyway, we may as well wait well. I'm asking the Lord to rid us all of any mess, hindrances, or potential blockages that would muddy what the Lord has for our forward. My prayer is that in the Father's perfect timing for our production, may we be found ready. Understanding that "ready" is subjective, and therefore in His presence, trusting He will give us what we need to pass the test of Faith.

Reflections + more prayer :)

Looking at the traffic example spiritually, I pray we understand that we must choose to trust our route instructor (God). Confidently knowing, He knows our end from the beginning. Therefore, He is directing from a different vantage point that is advantageous to those that follow His instructions. Today, let's keep calm even if what we are waiting on is unknown, delayed (seemingly or actually), an inconvenience, or not the best use of our time in our eyes.

HELP US HOLY SPIRIT to take in Divine Delays. Help us to trust that when we get off track when we come back to You, we know You will reroute our journey for success. Today, we are waiting well by resting in the power of Your authority and word, and therefore we are calm. We're not just waiting but waiting well (with patience). AMEN.

P.S. God is not ignoring you. If you need to release a build-up of emotions, thoughts, even anger -- release it by being truthful with Him concerning the time. Subsequently, implement praise, prayer, and worship into your time with the Lord, time in His presence will heal you.

I love when God confirms His word. I saw a clip of this video on a friend's Facebook story after He spoke to me about this blog. Take a listen when you have four minutes. Share in the comments one way on this final day of March 2022 how you are now making well of your wait.

Copyright 2022. Ebony D. Green All rights reserved.

I do not own the rights to this video.