In the Waiting

The Hardest Part Is Waiting for God’s Plan to Unfold
October 29, 2020

There is a beautiful song written and recorded some 20 years ago entitled “In the Waiting.” The lyrics share. “Pain—The gift nobody longs for, still it comes. And, somehow leaves us stronger when it’s gone away. Pray—I try and pray for Your will to be done, but I confess it’s never fast enough for me. It seems the hardest part is waiting on You when what I really want is just to see Your hand move. I want a peace beyond my understanding. I want to feel it fall like rain in the middle of my hurting. I want to feel Your arms as they surround me and let me know that it’s okay. To be here in this place resting in the peace that only comes in the waiting…” In the waiting. In God’s infinite wisdom, fully knowing what it takes to grow a woman, grow a man as He ordains the “seasons” of life. I grew up in beautiful Denver, Colo. I haven’t lived there for some 41 years, yet I distinctly remember the majesty of the aspen trees, especially in the fall with their golden tones. It is easy to overlook the process that brought them to that moment of glory. When fall ends and the frigid blasts of winter hit them just a short time later, they lose all of their beauty and become barren. Then comes springtime and new life is generated, ultimately producing lush green leaves. The summer follows, granting them plenty of sunshine to strengthen their core and pump hidden nutrients through their branches into the leaves. Finally, the fall comes, their moment of glory—albeit for a short time. For everything in life, there is a season. Many spend a lifetime waiting in futility for happiness, joy and fulfillment based on the circumstances of their life. It never comes, because this life is unable to grant us that type of permanence in joy. Profound joy that no one or nothing can snatch from you is found only in the life-giver, Christ, alone. Greater is He that is in us, than anything that is in this world. I leave you with this pointed thought from scripture found in Isaiah 30:18 (NKJV); “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” Yield not to the temptation to orchestrate a “speed-up” in God’s Plan. Remember, speed increases the impact of the crash. He knows what’s best for you and your life. Trust Him! 


By Carlos J. Craig, President