The interview could not have gone any better. The committee appeared to really like us and seemed genuinely pleased with each answer we gave to their questions. They showed us around the church facilities, told us about their youth, and gave us the impression they were interested in my husband coming as their minister to students. When we left that afternoon, they promised to call us later in the week.
That was 35 years ago.
We’re still waiting for the call.
Not really. We finally figured out that they weren’t going to call. But you get the idea.
Waiting is one of the most difficult activities of life and some periods of waiting are harder than others. Sometimes, waiting is merely annoying. Like when you’re standing in the express checkout line and the person in front of you has 50 items and you have 5.
But sometimes waiting is really, really difficult. Like when the finance committee is meeting to discuss your salary. Or the elders are meeting to discuss your effectiveness. Or the deacons are meeting and you have no idea why.
Or maybe you’ve already become the casualty of a church meeting and you’re waiting to find another job. Any job. Anything that will help pay the bills.
Or maybe you’re waiting to hear from a church that has received your resume. You wonder if they will give you the chance to prove yourself.
Whatever the reason behind your wait, remember that waiting has been part of the human experience since the beginning of time. Consider what the Bible has to say about the matter:
Are you scared? Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 27:14).
Does life seem unfair? Are those who hurt you prospering? Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes (Psalm 37:7).
Has grief sapped you of all your energy? You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress (Psalm 59:9).
Do you feel like you’re in a rat race and the rats are winning? I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him (Psalm 62:1).
Are you hurting more than you ever imagined possible? Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter (Proverbs 20:22).
Are you waiting for God to do what He promised He would do? And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled (Romans 15:4). Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised (Hebrews 6:15).
There’s no denying that waiting is hard. And it’s a very personal experience. What helps one person deal with a time of waiting may not help another person.
But think about this: We serve a Savior who understands what it means to wait. When Jesus came to earth, He waited 30 years before beginning His official ministry. And now, thousands of years after His crucifixion and resurrection, He is waiting for God the Father to give the word for His return.
So as you wait, as you pray, as you scan job postings and check your in-box for an encouraging word, know that no one understands what it means to wait more than Jesus does.