Stop Wasting Your Waiting Season: A Biblical Plan to Shift Your Mindset and Trust God
Some of us are trying to escape from the weight God is trying to give us in the wait.
You’re under something heavy. I get it. There are times you want God to get you out from under it. Maybe He will. But maybe He’s allowing you to remain under heavy wait so you grow. Remember: God’s will is not always to help you get out, but it is always to help you grow up.
The weight of waiting is helping you grow! In fact, James says when we stay under these weights, we are becoming “perfect and complete” (James 1:4). That word perfect doesn’t mean without sin or flaw. It means “mature” and has the connotation of something reaching its end goal. For instance, the “end goal” of an acorn is an oak tree. An oak tree is a “perfect” acorn. You see?
James is saying there is a perfected “end goal” version of you—the version God saw when He formed you. Picture it! There’s a version of you who has joy regardless of what happens. A version of you who isn’t controlled by emotions. A version of you who isn’t so worried about what others think. A version of you who forgives and is free of bitterness. A version of you who is confident and thriving in your gifts. There’s an “end goal” version of you!
But guess how you get there? You remain under heavy weight. Now do you see why God is asking you to remain in difficult opportunities? He sees what you can grow into. When you’re under those weights, think of God as your Spotter saying, “You got this. I won’t let it crush you. You’ll grow into it.”
What Wisdom Knows
What if you can’t lift that weight, though? I get it. I’ve felt like that. Shouldn’t we call out to the spotter and say, “Hey! Get this weight off me!” You’d think, if the weight is too heavy, James would tell us to ask for deliverance, right? But instead, he tells us to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5).
If you’re like me, you’re thinking, I don’t want wisdom! I want deliverance! Get this stupid weight off me! So why do we ask for wisdom instead of deliverance? Because if we have wisdom to see what God is up to in the hard seasons, we will know He isn’t wasting one ounce of our pain. In other words:
When it hurts, remember:
Strength is made under heavy weight
Wisdom knows this season’s not a waste
The God of Leftovers
The older I get, the more I see God doesn’t waste anything. Remember when He fed the 5,000? He made the disciples pick up the 12 leftover baskets. Remember when He did it a second time? He made the disciples pick up the 7 leftover baskets. But I’m not here to tell you God doesn’t waste food, I’m telling you God doesn’t waste anything you go through.
I had a friend who was like most college kids…broke! Every weekend, he and his fraternity brothers would take all the leftovers they had from the week. It didn’t matter if it was something delicious like steak or disgusting like broccoli (if you like broccoli, that’s weird). They would combine it, mix it together, and somehow concoct this “leftover casserole.” The strangest part is they loved it! They looked forward to it every week!
God does something similar. When I say He doesn’t waste anything, I mean anything. I’ve seen God use seemingly pointless seasons and make something good out of each one. I’ve seen God use seasons when people tried to hurt me, and He made something good out of it. Want to get real? I have seen God use some of my biggest sins and deepest regrets to form a deeper love for Him in my heart. God is the God who wastes nothing. He’s not going to waste the hard things He’s calling you to or the heavy things He’s having you stand under. But we need wisdom to see these times as growth opportunities.
Do you know how much is wasted because people don’t have wisdom to see their situation as God sees it? What if God was trying to cultivate patience in you, but you could only see how annoying they were? What if God was trying to teach you forgiveness, but you could only see how wrong they were? What if God was trying to teach you contentment, but you could only see what you didn’t have yet? What if God was trying to teach you discipline, but you could only see how nagging your boss was? I’m not saying that the season wasn’t hard. I’m saying wisdom reminds us that the season isn’t wasted by God. Is it wasted by you? Are you running from opportunities that can grow you?
We shouldn’t just want deliverance in these seasons, we should want wisdom. God wastes nothing. He uses these seasons to form the “end goal” version of you He’s seen all along. Do you have the wisdom to see that? If so, you won’t waste the wait by wasting the weight.
Moldy Medicine
By telling you about a scientist named Alexander Fleming. He’s the guy you’re thankful for but probably don’t know about. I’m sure at some point in your life, you’ve been sick. Not only that, but I am also sure at some point you relied on a drug called penicillin. It’s somewhat of a miracle drug that has saved over 200 million lives. Here’s the fun part—do you know how it was discovered?
In 1928, physician and microbiologist Alexander Fleming returned to his lab after a vacation. When he walked into the lab, he noticed mold growing in an uncovered petri dish containing a staphylococcus culture. If you’re like me, this grosses you out.
Instead of being grossed out, Fleming studied the mold in the dish. He noticed the mold was having an interesting effect on the other bacteria. Eventually, he learned this mold had a substance that produced a “self-defense chemical” and was able to stop harmful bacteria. He named that substance penicillin. Now, penicillin is a medicine used every day to help stop harmful bacteria in the human body. Who would have thought, where most other people saw mold, Fleming saw medicine.
This is the way God works too. God sees so much more in your situation than you can. I’m not denying it: there is definitely a weight in your wait. Some of it is moldy and gross. Yet, in the hard seasons, if we remain under the weight and ask for wisdom, we’ll see God wastes nothing. He’s bringing beauty from ashes, strength from weakness, medicine from mold. You get the point. We have to watch for growth opportunities in the wait, not run from them! Why? Because God uses them to help you grow.
Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is
I want to say this: I know I’m advocating for you to do something extremely uncomfortable. However, I’m not giving you advice I wouldn’t take.
I was in a very cushy situation. My wife graduated Physician Assistant school, started her own medical practice by the beach, and was making a lot of money. I was the youth and young adult pastor and quadrupled the programs I was over, then moved into leading all the ministries at the church. I loved the people there, and they loved me. If I would have been the next lead pastor, I don’t think there would have been too many objections (though, I’m sure there would have been some). I was on track to be my own boss at a mega church in my early 30s.
Please know, I am not bragging. I am nothing but a culmination of God’s grace and wonderful people who have helped me. My point is this: God asked us to leave all that. He asked us to start a church with zero dollars, zero congregants, and move to a city where we knew two people. Why? I believe, for me, leaving was the route that would grow my reliance on God and my character. God cared more about character than comfort.
Getting the church off the ground has been a heavy weight. I stepped into a space where I am the chief pastor, chief marketing director, chief fundraiser, chief event planner, chief accountant, chief everything! I couldn’t have completely anticipated the weight I’m having to remain under. But my goodness, it has been wonderful. God has taught me so much. He put me in a situation bigger than I could handle in my own strength. But guess what? I’m growing into it.
God has stuff for you to grow into too. Just keep those eyes open. When you sense Him leading you toward something that seems a bit difficult, be willing to jump into it! Why? Because our good Father always puts us in something a little bit too big. Don’t worry—you’ll grow into it.