Wait. This word has haunted so many of us throughout our entire lives. Wait until you're older, wait until you move out, wait for this movie or that concert, wait here in line for five years because we only have one register open. Wait wait wait. It's frustrating, stressful, and sometimes it seems impossible to wait any longer, yet people still tell us to wait. Our professors, our pastors, our parents, and God.

Yes, even God says to wait. In fact, He commands it. He doesn't command this to be cruel, but He commands it because waiting is actually good for us. “Wait” appears in the Bible multiple times, and of course we've heard the verse that says that those who wait on the Lord renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31), but let's just stop and think about that for a few moments. Those who wait on the Lord renew their strength. We are strengthened in the waiting. We're refreshed and refined in the waiting—in the standstill moments that are beyond our control.

Whoa, that puts a kink in my tendency towards impatience.

While we're waiting, we can choose to complain and grumble because things aren't happening like we think they should, or we can do what the Bible says and find rest in Him, knowing that even though things may be moving slower than we'd like, He's got everything worked out. Perhaps the waiting period is to purposely slow us down and help us focus on Him rather than our temporary lives on this earth. Perhaps it's to teach us to listen to His voice instead of our own. Perhaps it's to build our character and get us ready for whatever He has around the next bend.

Waiting isn't a punishment. It isn't a nuisance or the bane of our existence. Waiting is a preparation period in which our character is built and our faith is exercised and grown. I thank God for the waiting, even though it means I have to put my patient pants on, because the waiting teaches us to put things in perspective, rely on Him, trust in Him, and rest in Him.

We can learn this valuable lesson by looking at Bible heroes like King David. He was anointed to become the next king when he was still a boy, but the crown didn't come right away. He had to—you guessed it—wait. In his waiting period he faced many battles. He was betrayed by his king and he had to run for his life like a criminal. He was hurt over and over again, and yet he still praised God with psalms, writing things like “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him" (Psalms 62:1) and "be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act" (Psalm 37:7). Beautiful words that show the simple and profound faith this man had, the faith that he never lost throughout his many struggles. Even though he had to wait for years to see God's promise over his life come into fulfillment, David did so graciously. He didn't give up, but he did all that he knew to do, trusting God to take care of the rest in the meantime.

So yes, wait. Wait for that new car, that dream job, that answer to prayer. God's timing is always perfect, so trust Him. Let Him build your character and refine you, and wait.