I so dislike waiting on anything. Whether waiting in line or waiting for an appointment, the simple fact that I am waiting drives me absolutely bonkers! It’s a shortcoming of which I am well aware. In an attempt to overcome this personal flaw, many years ago, I took up gardening. My thinking at the time was that it would force me to accept that waiting is an undeniable fact of life and it has indeed helped me to understand that waiting – in many instances – is not only necessary, but also beneficial.
Waiting for Purpose to Germinate
Many experienced gardeners will be able to take on quick look at a variety of seeds and – based upon the look, shape, size, color, and maybe even odor – can tell you exactly what type of seed it is. I am not one of those gardeners. Regardless, it’s one thing to know what a seed represents, it’s another to know how and when to plant it in the best conditions for proper growth.
What’s the right soil type? How many hours of sunlight should it get? How much water is needed? What sort of animals and insects prey upon it? You see, there is much more to consider than to merely put it in the ground and look forward to a harvest.
We often don’t consider all the “requirements” of pursuing our purpose while trying to know what that purpose even is. Some people might live my the philosophy of “just go.” I am not one who is in favor of such a philosophy. We must go forward, yes, but we must also consider conditions that God has established to prepare us for that purpose.
In my case, I know I am created to be a writer. I’ve known it for pretty much my entire life. I pursued it through many a methods, but fell to defeat every time I sought to see anything I had written to publication. As good as I thought my writing talent was at the time, I can now understand exactly how I was not prepared to be the type of writer God had in store.
Heck, I probably still am not yet that writer.
Waiting to Grow Into Your Purpose
I knew I was called to be a writer. When the conditions of how God was preparing me were appropriate, he showed me that I was to write 1.) for his glory, and 2.) to help others pursue their own personal development as I do so. That second part is where the “refining life, on purpose” mission of 1Glories came about.
I know of very few people who like waiting. Through gardening, I have learned that waiting is a undeniable fact of life and it has indeed helped me to understand that waiting – in many instances – is not only necessary, but also beneficial.
To take this back to the gardening metaphor, you might say I knew I was a tomato, but I had no idea what type of tomato God intended me to be. Would I grow into a cherry tomato? Perhaps a Roma or Juliet (those are a favorite at our house, btw). Might I be yellow, green, red or maybe one of those goofy multi-color tomatoes? I don’t know, but until that is determined, we cannot know how the fruit (yes, a tomato is a fruit) is to be used.
As I consider this topic more, I am reminded of the much under-appreciated movie, Simon Birch. In that movie, the diminutive but highly self-aware Simon Birch comes to understand that he was created for a purpose and seeks to fulfill it.
But he’s forced into waiting to live it. He, much like the rest of us would be, is restless as he pursues his yet-to-be purpose, and he is all the while reminding anyone who will listen that he has a purpose. The movie is based upon, or more appropriately inspired by, the John Irving book, A Prayer for Owen Meany. In the book, Owen, like Birch, believes he is God’s instrument and seeks out fulfillment as such. Truthfully, we all should have the same – or at lease similar – revelations and ambitions.
Whether it is Simon Birch or Owen Meaney, or you or I, there is no-doubt a desire to be in that season where fulfillment is achieved. It’s sort of like setting out for a long trip and desiring to be at your destination before you’re even a minute into it. It’s like watching your lettuce and tomatoes sprout, yet longing for a salad or BLT.
Embrace the Season of Waiting
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.– Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV)
Both Birch and Meany come to achieve their respective purposes. You and I will achieve ours as well, because God always keeps his promises. He has started good works in us and will see them through to the completed masterpieces he’d envisioned from the very beginning of time.
When we are restless in our waiting, the Holy Spirit is at work. We also have the opportunity to take joy in the experiences that come as we pursue purposeful living. And here’s the kicker – we should be achieving purpose daily.
Our purpose is not the gift we receive. It isn’t even meant for us. It’s all for God. We, on the other hand are blessed with the gift of waiting! You see, once fulfilled, a purpose has met its certain conclusion. There is nothing further to go and be. And once fulfilled, there is no going back to what we ignored in our seasons of “waiting” as we dreamt of being at our destinations.
Our #purpose is not our gift; It's all for #God. We are instead #blessed with the gift of #waiting! Click To TweetStop Waiting and Start Living
I love these words that Paul gives to the church at Colosse. He tells them that he has concern for the church of nearby Laodicea, perhaps doing so to help them see they are on the same level as a lukewarm church that Revelation tells us God will spit out from his mouth (Rev. 3:15-17)!
So what do we do with our waiting? How are we to go?
First, always be growing. Standing firm in the faith, being watchful and strong, learning to love and developing the fruits of the spirit. Second, be a doer or the word. A lukewarm Christian can know all the words and phrases, but if there is no action displaying development of the fruits, they are missing out on the blessing of glorifying God, which is our true purpose.
Be confident in your hope, just as is the writer in Psalm 130. Enjoy the experience of your journey – the waiting – and look forward with great excitement as you glorify God daily. You then will have the eternally lasting blessing on the day in which you are called home and told, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)