Waiting is Hard
Waiting is hard…I know God has plans for me, but at times I feel stuck somewhere in the middle between my past and my future. It’s like I am in some kind of relationship limbo. No longer a wife, and certainly not your traditional widow; but I am not dating anyone yet either…Limbo! I keep waiting for the right man that God has picked out for me to come along and I know that he will come when the time is right, but I need to be honest with you about 2 things.
One: the waiting is hard. In fact, it is much more difficult than I ever gave my single friends credit for (before I joined their ranks), so encourage your single friends. Listen to them talk about the frustrations they may feel as a single person, and whatever you do don’t tell them that they have it easy…because they don’t. The struggle is real, and they really need your support.
Weary Wait-er
And two: waiting makes us weary. I am not making excuses for our behavior, but we all make decisions out of loneliness that we later regret – regardless of our marital status. A little too flirty at work, an innocent text here, or a quick peek there – and we are messing with fire. You have seen it. If truth be told, you’ve probably done it. I think we can all agree that it is a slippery slope. Standards get thrown out in the throes of passion and suddenly… “What in the world is she doing with him?” or “What does he even see in her?” It happens everyday.
Skipping Stones
Now I am not passing judgment. Believe me, I have made my own fair share of mistakes in life and I don’t want to be the first one to throw a stone (or even the last one). I have been in the middle of the circle of condemnation and nothing good ever comes from that. No, I can honestly say that I have more compassion now, because of the sins I have given in to and the glorious grace that I have received from God. His grace was amazing the first time I experienced it, and His grace has been just as amazing each and every time since then.
So what am I trying to say here? Simply said… I am asking for your prayers. Not for God to decrease the waiting period and send my new man quicker, although I wouldn’t stop you from praying for that if you feel so motivated. Instead, pray for me to really trust God and keep waiting on His plan for me. Pray for me not to get too weary in the waiting and make decisions out of loneliness that I will later regret. Pray that I will be strengthened in the waiting.
Dear God, I thank you that You are a loving and forgiving God. That You are slow to anger and abounding in mercy. You have been so faithful to me through this long journey and I trust that You will continue to be faithful to me. Help me to be faithful to You. Lord. Sometimes, it is hard for me to ask for Your help. And even though I have experienced your grace before, somehow it is still hard for me to humble myself and admit that I need You so much. Father, help me to be bolder in asking for your grace and strength. You will surely not turn me away when I ask for your help.
Great God, I know the power of praying friends and I thank you for the people you have placed in my life that I can feel comfortable with enough to ask for their help now. Thank you that I have friends that I can be open and honest with about my struggles, and that I can count on their continued love and support.
Gracious God, I feel better already confessing my weaknesses to You and to my friends, because confession is good for the soul and I have needed to ask for help with this struggle for a while. Thank You for your goodness and grace,
I ask all these things in the name of the one who died for me, Jesus, who through His great sacrifice has completely covered my sins and His grace has set me free. May I walk in the freedom of His great love for me. Amen.
