the joy of waiting

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones;  a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to hear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. [Ecclesiastes 3:1-8]

I was truly blessed to hear Rachel Ong's podcast this morning. I was reminded of how many times in our lives God will challenge us to wait upon Him, and to wait with a joyful heart!

I am just imagining how a significant portion of my time, probably even half of my life, will be devoted on waiting for things -  waiting in queue, waiting for the perfect job, promotion, the next raise, waiting for the bus, train, the next traffic light; waiting for the next vacation, holidays, and eventful occasions; waiting for people, friends, family, and for God's best. Whew! Just thinking about all these make me want to cross my arms and tap my foot! I admit, I am guilty of whining, of throwing a tantrum, of thinking how others do not respect my time, of complaining, and of asking God why.

Why should I wait, and wait with a joyful heart? Because God says so. I may not understand today why God has put me where I am now, and why He allows me to deal with things I am going through but I know and believe that He is on top of all these and in His perfect time (when I have enough wisdom to understand), everything will be revealed to me.

Life is more colorful because of the different seasons in our lives. And we should cherish every season and pray that we get the most out of it. That we come out of it wiser and appreciate God's gift to us in that season. Sometimes, I feel that He is letting us wait and not allowing us to move on to the next season  because we have yet to get what we should be getting out of it. How do we know? Only He can tell. Some of us will hear or feel it, or He may just shove us to the next one. Well, just live life! and live it for His glory. ;-)