Gratitude in the Waiting

I heard a quote once that said, “Everything God is preparing for you is worth the wait.” It sounded nice so I taped it into my Bible, but how often do we truly believe the little Christian stickers that we like to paste on our cars, computers, and even in our Bibles? I sit here, reminded that I need to truly believe what I promote. The quote rings true in that everything God is preparing for each of us is truly worth the wait because what Jesus has planned for us exceeds all human expectations. However, preparation requires patience and patience is rooted in the waiting. It is in those seasons where we actively wait on the Lord to answer prayers, change circumstances, and fulfill His promises. However, note that I said actively wait. Waiting is not supposed to be a time of laziness, sadness, complaining, and other things like this, but rather a time to praise God. We should praise God before, during, and after the storm. In every season and circumstance we should be rejoicing and praising God just like Paul talks about in the book of Philippians. We must actively wait on the Lord by pursuing a closer relationship with Him, and by consistently praising Him for who He is. Our circumstances do not change God’s character. Furthermore, I titled this devotion “Gratitude in the Waiting.” One thing that heavily influenced this devotion is the song “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake, I highly suggest listening to it, SO GOOD!! But, I feel that oftentimes when we are in a waiting season we forget the beauty of the preparation. There is so much to find gratitude in even when we are waiting. Here’s just a few things to be grateful about: God is currently working in your life, and He will not quit working until He brings the good work to completion. There is more of Jesus to experience, this season is a great time to learn more about the character of God. The Lord’s presence is a promise and He is with you constantly. God can use the waiting as a way for you to depend on Him and His strength rather than your own, and it helps us look to Him for answers, and teaches us to trust Him. Those examples only skim the surface of all there is to be grateful for in the waiting season. Remind yourself that the Lord is working and that He has SO much in store for you. He wants the absolute best for His beloved. He lavishly loves you and desires your whole heart. Praise Him for He is worthy of all of our praise. Lastly, I think one of the coolest things about the waiting season is that it is just a season. One day the waiting will be over, but it’s the journey that makes the end result so much sweeter. Appreciate the process of preparation that the Father is pruning you through. Allow gratitude to become the posture of your heart.