The infamous waiting season, or like I call it sometimes, the discouragement season. The reason why I call it the discouragement season is that nothing makes you lose hope faster than a long period of waiting. Day after day, month after month, year after year go by with unanswered prayers. God is silent; you are hopeless.
Nothing troubles our hearts more than seeing other people fulfilling their dreams while our clock is ticking. Maybe your waiting season is singleness, a career jump. Perhaps you are desiring to get pregnant, purchase a home, etc. It doesn’t matter what your waiting season is, you are losing hope, and even worse, you are questioning God. The waiting season is making you feel unloved and unfavored.
I can talk about it because I’ve been there. I have questioned what I’m doing wrong and why I’m unworthy to receive what I desire. It can be very lonely in here, and my mind goes to dark places—places where God's presence doesn’t belong.
Then, out of the blue, God reminds me that He knows better than I, that I have no reason to doubt Him, and even less to complain. Sometimes, we stare at the unopened doors longer than we should, missing all the other doors God has opened for us. We miss the blessings in front of us, thinking about future blessings. We discard the actual good in our lives; we miss the reason for our current season.
Our current season is not a time to be wasted. If we sit still looking at the door we wish to be open, we are missing the present moment. When God calls me out and I reflect on my current situation, I can see it. I can see how blessed I truly am. Then I felt that sting of ungratefulness when I fell blindsided by my own desires, and only then was I able to see the big picture. I have so much to be grateful for. I was making that unanswered prayer the center of my existence, overlooking all the things going on for me that other people are wishing for.
Recently, I was feeling a little down about my unanswered prayers when God brought this amazing friend and woman of God to mind. Only then do I feel the need to apologize to God for my attitude, and gratitude fills my heart for all those blessings I currently have and take for granted. My dear friend is battling a disease; she might have reasons to feel discouraged and to question God, but what she does instead? She is happily waiting in the middle of uncertainty. Her faith is unshakeable. I’m sure she has moments where she feels God is not listening but she gets back up and keeps fighting, keeps going. She doesn’t know this but she inspires me greatly. Her testimony keeps me in check. Her resilience is admirable. God has not forsaken her. Her waiting season has a purpose. Our seasons have a purpose.
You can see your cup is half full or half empty. But your faith makes you believe God is about to overflow yours with blessings at His perfect timing. Waiting seasons are not to break you, they are intended to build you. They make you spiritually stronger. When the season is over, you won’t be the same person, and that’s part of your purpose, your testimony. Keep patiently waiting…
