The Way You Wait Matters

For the revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, WAIT for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3 NIV

To wait means to stay in place in expectation of or to patiently anticipate. As I studied, I realized waiting is attached to expectation. In other words, I should wait because I expect something to occur. 

We are all waiting for something. The earth is waiting for the second coming of Jesus. Some of us are waiting for healing. Others are waiting for spouses or children. Some are simply waiting for lunch. Regardless of what you are waiting on, God cares. Take a moment and identify what you are waiting for and why you are waiting for it. Now that you have identified what you are waiting for, let’s talk about how you should wait.

How should we wait?

Let’s start by reading Matthew 25:1-13, the Parable of the Bridesmaids. This passage of scripture directly relates to the second coming of Christ, but it also gives practical wisdom on how we should wait throughout our lives.

Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 

Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish DIDN’T TAKE ENOUGH olive oil for their lamps, 

BUT the other five were wise enough to take along EXTRA oil. 

When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.

Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were READY went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.  Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Matthew 25:1-13 NIV

It all boils down to this one principle…

If you are expecting something, you should prepare for it. Your level of preparation reveals your level of expectation.

All of the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep. The distinction between the foolish and the wise was their level of preparation. Much like the wise bridesmaids, WE should prepare more than enough. WE should live in a state of expectation.  So, are you ready? Are you financially and physically prepared for the child you desire? Are you mentally prepared for the challenge that comes with career elevation? Are you emotionally prepared to endure when your marriage hits a rough spot? 

Waiting is not inactive hope. Waiting requires active preparation. Waiting effectively requires faith. The wise bridesmaids used their time wisely and went above and beyond to ensure that they were prepared. They did their ‘shopping’ early. They did not have to scramble to get what they needed at the last minute. They understood the value of time and did not procrastinate. The wise bridesmaids understood that though the bridegroom was delayed, He was coming. 

We need the same mentality. 

Cookie Illustration

Imagine this. Your sweet tooth is flaring up and you decide to bake yourself warm homemade cookies. Upon mixing all of the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, you make small blobs of cookie dough on a nonstick cookie sheet. Then you place the cookie sheet in the heated oven. Now you must wait on the cookies to bake. The cookies in this illustration represent what you are waiting on in your life. 

You’ve prepared the ‘cookies’, but they are not done yet. Now what?

1. Be productive
   • Have you ever noticed how slow time seems to move when you are staring at the clock? Five minutes can feel like an eternity. Irrespective of the way we wait, time does not slow down or speed up. So, while you wait on your ‘cookies’ to bake, live your life. Get busy. If I was actually baking cookies, I would not just sit in the kitchen and stare at the clock. I would pass the time by doing dishes or cleaning other areas of the house. I may even read a book or call a friend. Preoccupy yourself as you wait and the wait will not seem so treacherous. 
2. Remember 
   • Do not forget you have ‘cookies’ in the oven. If I were baking cookies, I may leave the kitchen, but I would never leave the house. Leaving the house entirely would increase the likelihood that my cookies would burn and be ruined. With this principle in mind, remember to keep whatever you are preparing for in view. Timing is everything. Forgetfulness and inattentiveness causes us to miss or destroy what we desire most. Set your heart to remember what you are waiting on, so that when it arrives you are ready. 

Big Hugs,

Ayanna