No one likes waiting. Whether it's waiting for your food to come to your table after you've ordered, or waiting to find out whether the baby you're having is a boy or a girl. No matter how "worth the wait" the wait is, it's still hard to withstand in the moment.
I've been in what people like to call a "season of waiting." Yeah. How fun does that sound. To quote Petey (from Remember the Titans), "Zero fun, sir." But as I've grown and matured in this season the past few years, I've realized that I've needed the wait. Do I enjoy it any more than I used to? No. Not really. BUT do I know that something great will come at the end of the wait? Yes. Yes, I do.
So what have I been waiting on, you ask? Financial stability, a husband, a family of my own, that feeling of knowing that my life is complete. Generally, those things all fall under the "worth waiting for" category, but that does NOT make the wait any easier!
The past few weeks, I've looked back at this waiting season and I've suddenly realized why God put me here...
1. I've been able to move out and become independent
Since I commuted to college, I did a lot at home with my parents. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but I was getting to be a little too dependent on them. Mom would cook dinner and clean the house. Dad would fix anything and keep the fire up. What did I do? My laundry and an occasional batch of cookies or other baked treats. I needed to get out to prepare me for this adulting stuff.
2. I've become so close with people I wouldn't have otherwise
My roommates that I've had, my small groups I've been a part of, my coworkers that became friends, all these people would have been much harder to connect with if God had given me everything I wanted right when I wanted it. My roommates, for example. I have spent countless hours with the two of them when I lived with them, and that wouldn't have happened if I was in a relationship from the get go. I have had opportunities to go to concerts, lectures, churches, and so many other places while bonding with who I was living with. It really took those relationships to a deeper level and I'm SO thankful for that.
3. I've learned to be careful and responsible with my money
If I wanted to buy something, I had to plan ahead. If I wanted to use my credit card, I had to keep track of the payments. Cable? Expensive. Gas? Necessary. I've learned so much about finances and actually budgeting the past few years. Now that I have a full-time job, I'm able to continue those practices and live a little less paycheck to paycheck!
4. I've been able to focus on family
Yes, the financial stability part would have been nice here, but the independent living and singleness of my last few years really have played a big part. While some moments in the past awful year would have welcomed the hand holding or hug of a significant other, I didn't have to worry about leaving in an instant and having to tell more than my roommate, updating another person, or trying to continue to build a relationship amongst chaos.
Another thing I waited for was a full time job (which I started at the beginning of the year). If I would have had a full time job when my family needed me most, I would not have been able to be there. I'm so thankful my job came when it did and I know I'll feel that way when the other things fall into place too!
Yes, waiting is hard. Yes, it's also worth it. Most importantly, yes, it is needed. We may not see why we need it when we're in the thick of it, but once we do see it, we can be so thankful.
I don't know when I'll be done waiting. I don't even know if all of those things will happen in my life. I do know that I'm going to take everyday at face value and live the crap out of life! While I wait, I'll build relationships I've already formed, keep financially planning for my future, and cherish the family I have for now. The waiting sucks, but the season doesn't have to!
