Wanting and Waiting

There are many stories in the Bible of people waiting for their dreams to come to fruition.

I'm talking about waiting.

For years. And years. And years. 

They tried everything.

They prayed, they manifested, they envisioned, they believed, they pleaded, they hoped.  

For the healing to come, the miracle to happen, the dream to come true. 

Crickets. Silence. Nothing.

Outwardly, they kept their faith. But inside, they started to doubt and question.  

Been there, done that. 

I don't know about you, but I get pretty snippy when I have been praying so hard for something I want to happen, and it doesn't.

At least not in my timing or the way I think it should. 

And that sucks. Sorry to say it, but that's just how it feels sometimes.

After years of waiting for what we want, cynicism, doubt, and even anger tend to creep in as the years pass and nothing happens. 

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Abraham and Sarah. 

My simplistic understanding of the story is that they waited years and years (and years) to have a baby. 

No doubt, they prayed and pleaded with God and tried everything possible to make it happen. 

Crickets. Silence. Nothing.

Then, one day, when Sarah was way past childbearing age, and they had accepted their fate with the "it is what it is" resolve, God visited Abraham and told him they would have a child.

When she overhears God telling Abraham this news, Sarah can't help but laugh to herself.

I imagine her saying, "Sure, NOW you hear me. NOW? Is this a prank? Who is this guy coming here telling me this nonsense? You aren't fooling me this time; I am not falling for this again." 

She probably rolled her eyes and went to work cleaning up the tent, pushing down any glimmer of hope that started to rise. She was undoubtedly afraid to hope after all those years, she simply could not manage another disappointment. 

God heard that internal dialogue. He understood that doubt, cynicism, and lost hope. God understood the suffering of unrequited wanting. He even called her on it but she denied what she was feeling. 

God responds, "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?"

Mic drop.

The miracle they longed for did happen. Eventually.  

I wish I could say that what you have wanted for so long will happen if your faith is strong enough, if you pray hard enough, and if you wait long enough.  

I wish there were a 5-step process for getting what you want. Guaranteed or your money back. 

I wish I could share some grand, inspirational sentences about how, eventually, everything will work out just as you want it to and that God will say yes to all you ask for. 

But that's not how it works, as much as I wish it were.  

What I can offer in this wanting and waiting is that you are not alone. In your sadness, in your grief, in your longing. You are not alone.

Cry out to God and let Him hear all that you are feeling. God can handle your anger, grief, and sadness, so let it all out. You don't have to fake it or hide what you are feeling. 

Rather than thinking of God as a prayer-answerer or a wish-granter, think of Him as a loving friend who never leaves or forsakes you. - like that friend you call to air your grievances after a terrible day who always listens and understands. 

Or perhaps you can think of God as a loving Father, embracing and soothing His precious child, kissing away the boo-boos, and holding you as long as it takes until you feel better. 

You don't have to suffer through this wanting and waiting alone. 

Reach out to someone who has experienced what you are going through; they will provide wisdom to guide you and empathetic, ears to listen along the way. 

God has great plans for you, which I know can be hard to believe when things aren't going as you want them to.  

Keep going, my friend. There are so many things to be grateful for, despite our yearnings.

Eventually, it is all going to be okay. I promise.

I love you, God loves you - you are not alone.

Genesis 18: 9-15

Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him.

"There, in the tent," he said.

Then one of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 

So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."

But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

2 Corinthians 4: 18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.