Capacity for waiting

Capacity is the maximum amount that can be contained, produced, or held, whether it's the volume of a container or the number of people an event can hold. (According to AI)

This brings to mind, what is your capacity for waiting?

We've been discussing answers to prayer the last couple of weeks here on the Journey. 

For instance, we know there are three answers to prayer: Yes, No, and Wait.

I first shared some of my "Yes" answers to prayer, but later I realized I should have specified my answer to praying for healing of infertility was a "Wait," long before it ever became a "Yes."

It took ten long years of waiting; of fielding questions such as, "When are you going to start your family?"; ten years of watching the nieces and nephews unwrap their Christmas presents with excitement and wishing you had a child to share the joy; being present at many Mother's Day celebrations and baby showers knowing they might never be celebrations for you. 

It's hard.

But, I guarantee after you receive the answer you have been longing for, the agony of waiting all those years fades. Oh yes, you remember the angst; but the joy of the answer takes away the sting.

I felt my capacity for waiting had reached the end and decided to get on with my life. I even learned to put the idea of motherhood on the back burner. 

And then, when I least expected it, what I thought was stomach flu turned out to be morning sickness. Baby Elissa Joy showed up!

God had not forgotten my request even though I had chosen not to dwell on it anymore.

His timing is not our timing and His ways are not our ways.

~~

The above post was written in response to the Five Minute Friday prompt, "capacity." 

The above response was written in 5 minutes; but I've more to say!

The idea of waiting is often a tough pill to swallow. We live in a microwave and fast food culture. We get aggravated if we have to wait in a drive through line. We often complain to each other that we used to be able to order off Amazon prime and get it within two days. We forget that waiting 4 days for something to arrive from across the country is still a marvel! We want what we want and we want it now.

God doesn't work quickly. He works on time. He is weaving all our stories together to make something good, something greater than we could ask or think.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us Ephesians 3:20 NKJV 

The surprising part? There are benefits to waiting:

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NLT

 

This means as we wait for God to move, He will give us fresh strength. Waiting is not passive, it is actively seeking Him and His will. Great things will come from this type of waiting! 

How much capacity do you have for waiting?

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Thanks for dropping by the Journey! I want to always share my post, A Ticket Home, for those who might not know the way Home.

Also, I'm thrilled to tell you the book, "A Family's Legacy: Passing Down Love, Wisdom and Tradition," is now available. One of the chapters in that book was written by me; and I now have an Amazon author's page that has all the details. Click here.

Also, have you read my series, "Armed and Dangerous" about spiritual warfare? Click the links for part 1, part 2 and part 3

Sharing at Five Minute Friday

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.