Many of us are waiting on something right now. Finishing school. Getting a job. Finding a spouse. Earning a promotion. Waiting on God to speak. To answer a prayer. To resolve a situation. To heal us. To reveal His plans. During times of waiting, I have been inspired by the words of a contemporary song by John Waller. You can listen to it below.
I won’t pretend to be an expert on this topic, but it is something that the Lord is teaching me at this time. I struggle when it seems like the exact direction for my future and that special someone are nowhere to be found. Another frustration is the fact that God has given me a desire to serve in ministry but I’ve yet to hear His leading on what that looks like. I have sought counsel from my parents, from wise older adults in my life, and my pastor. I have been assured that God will bring it in His own good time — as long as I’m ready. I’m having to realize that always focusing on the always-elusive future can hinder me spiritually and relationally in the present. Therefore, I’m prayerfully seeking ways to serve the Lord in the here and now while I wait on whatever He has in store for me.
I’m realizing I have to be intentional about finding opportunities now. The future is never going to come to me out of nowhere. I have to be growing not only in my career, but in my relationships, adulthood and community. For starters, I’ve joined a dedicated Friday morning Bible study. What is important right now is finding ways to be encouraged in my walk with the Lord and to grow with other people. It may be exactly where the Lord wants me to be at this point in my life. I’ve also begun volunteering with my family at a homeless shelter in our city. This experience is teaching me to focus on others’ needs instead of my own.
The possibilities here are endless: God may have you serve in other capacities in your church. He may want you to lead a life group or Bible study. Or it could be something as easy as volunteering with a local charity. I’m realizing that, in the absence of exact, clear direction from God, exactly what I am doing to serve Him by ministering to others isn’t as important as the fact that I am finding Christ-focused ways right now until He reveals more.
As I serve Him in these present ways, He will lead me into other opportunities. This place of seeming limbo may be where God is testing our patience. “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4, NKJV).
Waiting on further direction can never be an excuse for spiritual lethargy or inaction.
I can no longer be waiting in place for the future. No. I have to be serving the Lord while I prayerfully seek Him to reveal exactly what He has in store. I will be spiritually, emotionally and relationally ready when it comes. And I know it will be good, because “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
God’s blessings on you as you serve Him while you’re waiting.
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Adam Runyon is lives and works in the Nashville area.
