How do you wait? Do you wait well?
In my country – Kenya – we avoid waiting at all cost or minimize the amount of time we spend in waiting. In the Supermarkets, we choose the shortest checkout line and stand behind shoppers with the fewest items. We switch lanes to get around slow drivers on a highway and oftentimes, drivers overlap (a huge traffic offense) just to get past other motorists in traffic. We all have to wait for something every now and then, yet, even though we have to do it so many times over the course of our life, we aren’t very good at waiting. Are we?
That’s the same way we approach God, right? We want answers instantly, and when it doesn’t happen, we feel unloved and abandoned. In the Bible, God made people WAIT, not just for their own desires but also for the fulfilment His promises in their life. Abraham was promised that his descendants would number the stars in the sky yet he had to wait for 25 Years for his only Son to be born. God delivered Israel from slavery yet God allowed them to wander in the desert for 40 years before reaching the promised land. Noah built an Ark but then waited for decades for that flood to come. Hannah waited for years for barrenness to pass. Story after story in the Bible reminds us that God is not interested in instant gratification.
Natural cycles of Seasons teach us about waiting, they come and go – spring, summer, fall, and winter. These seasons are predictable, we trust winter is ending soon and spring is coming but we have no clue exactly when the transition will happen, how smooth or easy the transition will be, or how long each season will last.
The season God puts us in can last a good portion of our life and ultimately, the length isn’t up to us. Such has been my story. When I was diagnosed with stage 4 Endometriosis, I had no idea what the journey ahead would look like. Surgery after surgery, countless doctor’s appointments, medications, every month I remained hopeful that it would be a better month than the last – but that was not the case. I took the matter to God for years, believed God for healing, confessed the word and though God has given me peace that surpasses all human understanding, I still haven’t physically experienced the healing I have so much longed for years. At one point I as so sick the doctor thought I had cancer but God!!
With Endometriosis also came the difficulty in conception. Prior to this, with the surgeries and medical interventions, there was hope (medically) for conception until all hope came crushing down on us. The physical pain of endometriosis and the pain of believing God for a miracle has been a journey I had not foreseen nor prepared for.
Waiting on God for the fruit of the womb is a whole different journey by itself. It’s a lonely season filled with filled with all sorts of uncertainties around the effectiveness of the treatments, uncertainties about people’s reactions, your spouse, yourself and a lot of emotional ups and downs. My husband and I have waited for a while and despite great medical help, some days it has felt like help is so far away. Even though God has blessed us with an amazing daughter, yet still, there are days we’ve felt like the promises of God to fill our quiver are like eternity away. Days we’ve cried because we didn’t know what else to tell God, days we’ve slept heartbroken after every trial failed and left us financially dented. Days that I’ve battled with feeling inadequate, unworthy and isolated. These feelings are very common when your expectation of carrying your children are shattered by infertility. This season for me has felt like 4 straight seasons of winter.
Many times, I have cried out to God and begged Him to release me from this season – lol. God has always answered, but not with the message I wanted to hear. His answers are always versions of the same – an affirmation of His promise over our lives. It’s always been the same thing but without a timeline, so I wait and that has been hard for me.
TESTIMONY!
God recently reminded me that the testimony is not the babies, the testimony is Him, Him being with me throughout the season. Most of us love to idolize the destination. We want to skip the process and get straight to the blessing. But it doesn’t work like that. You have to walk with God step by step in the journey and enjoy God in every moment. This season, as hard and uncomfortable as it has been, has been a tremendous season of growth in my life. It’s in my moments of vulnerability I have experienced a deeper relationship with God in prayer, meditation and service. As I patiently wait for God’s timing, my faith has been strengthened and I’ve learnt patient endurance. I’ve experienced God’s financial provision even when the end game was not what we wanted but God provided anyway. I have enjoyed relationships – people that have prayed with us, encouraged us, people that have been with me in hospital, booked appointments for us, took me in for surgeries, visited us, God used them to comfort us. I’ve learnt to show Mercy to others, and so so much more. It’s not been a waste; I look back and God has been in every detail.
I have sincerely tried to figure out why God would withhold a child from us. Is he disciplining us? Is he protecting us from something we don’t know? We have never landed on an answer, but we know God is at work. Like Jesus in Gethsemane or Paul with his thorn, our heavenly Father always has a greater purpose that requires quiet obedience. Job did not receive explanations, only assurances of God’s character. God is full of surprises, and by his grace we have now found peace in whatever His plan for our lives. We have learnt to trust that we truly want what he wanted for us.
As I conclude, I would lie if I say this journey doesn’t have critics and harsh criticism. Those who think we are cursed, please pray for us. Those who feel our faith is not strong enough, remember us in your prayers. Those who feel we have not sacrificed enough, please pray for us o! Those who think we are being punished, pray for us. Those who think we have not confessed the word accurately or enough times, help us we ask. Those who think we have not prayed enough, please pray for us. Whatever kingdom secret or mystery it is you may think we don’t know, please pray for us.
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:25
Sincerely,
Waiting Mum.
16 Comments
Powerful Testimony and insight
You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
This is powerful. How long Lord. A cry of the heart and spirit that only someone who has been in a long season of waiting can relate to.
Thank you for sharing your story and may God answer you with the fruit of the womb..
Hugs!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Hugs my sister 💕💕💕
This is just wow. So we may wait for answers and explanations from God but most of the time what we get is the reality of His character.💥
This is super powerful! Indeed God is our testimony. Powerful
This is such a thought-provoking reflection on how we handle waiting, especially in faith. It’s true—we want quick fixes, instant answers, and yet God’s timing is nothing like ours. The comparison to biblical figures really hits home—Abraham, Israel, Noah—they all had to endure long waits before seeing God’s promises fulfilled. Makes me wonder, do we trust God less when things take time?
What struck me most was the real-life example of waiting in Kenya—cutting lines, impatient driving—almost like we’re fighting against time itself. But life, like seasons, doesn’t hurry, does it? We know spring will come after winter, but we can never predict *exactly* when. Your story with Endometriosis adds such a raw, personal layer—how did you hold onto hope through all those surgeries and disappointments?
And here’s the real question—if waiting is inevitable, why do we *still* struggle so much with it? Is impatience just human nature, or have we lost the wisdom of trusting the process? Would love to hear your thoughts—how do you keep faith when the wait feels endless?
Waiting is indeed a universal experience, yet it’s fascinating how differently we all approach it. In Kenya, it seems like waiting is almost seen as a challenge to overcome, which is so relatable in today’s fast-paced world. The comparison to how we approach God is thought-provoking—why do we struggle so much with patience when it comes to His timing? The examples from the Bible are a powerful reminder that waiting is often part of a greater plan, even if it’s hard to see in the moment. Your personal story with Endometriosis adds such a raw and real perspective—how do you find the strength to remain hopeful through such a long and uncertain journey? I wonder, do you think there’s a way to reframe waiting as something more meaningful rather than just a delay? Your insights are so valuable, and I’d love to hear more about how you’ve navigated this season of your life.
Interesting perspective on waiting! I’ve never thought about how much effort we put into avoiding waiting, yet it’s such an inevitable part of life. It’s true though, whether it’s in traffic or at the supermarket, we’re always strategizing to save a few seconds. The connection you made to faith is fascinating—it’s easy to forget that waiting is often part of a bigger plan, even if it’s frustrating in the moment. The examples from the Bible really drive that point home; it’s humbling to realize that even the most faithful people had to endure long periods of waiting. Your personal story adds so much weight to the discussion—dealing with something as challenging as Endometriosis must’ve required so much patience and hope. Do you think there’s a way to shift our mindset to see waiting as something meaningful rather than just a waste of time? I’d love to hear more about how you’ve managed to stay hopeful through it all.
Waiting is indeed a universal experience, yet it’s fascinating how different cultures approach it. In Kenya, it seems like waiting is almost seen as a challenge to overcome, which is so relatable in today’s fast-paced world. The comparison to how we approach God is thought-provoking—why is it so hard for us to trust in His timing when history shows He always delivers? The stories of Abraham, Israel, and Noah are powerful reminders that waiting is often part of a greater plan. I wonder, though, how do we find peace in the waiting, especially during life’s toughest seasons like your journey with Endometriosis? Your story is inspiring, but I’m curious—what has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through all the waiting?
Waiting is such a universal experience, yet it’s fascinating how differently we all approach it. In Kenya, it seems like waiting is almost a battle to be won, which is so relatable in today’s fast-paced world. The comparison to how we approach God is striking—impatience seems to be a human trait, whether in traffic or in faith. The biblical examples really drive home the point that waiting is often part of a bigger plan, even if it’s hard to see in the moment. Your personal story with Endometriosis adds such a raw, human layer to this idea of enduring seasons of waiting. It’s inspiring how you’ve held onto hope through it all. But I wonder, how do you find the strength to keep waiting when it feels endless? What keeps you grounded in those moments?
Interesting perspective on the concept of waiting and how it relates to both daily life and faith. The comparison between waiting in everyday situations, like traffic or supermarkets, and waiting on God’s timing is thought-provoking. It’s true that we often struggle with patience, wanting instant results, yet the Bible is filled with examples of waiting as a part of God’s plan. The mention of natural seasons as a metaphor for life’s seasons is a beautiful way to frame it, even though it can be frustrating not knowing when a season will end. I wonder, though, how do you personally maintain hope during long periods of waiting, especially when it’s tied to something as challenging as a health issue like Endometriosis? Do you find it gets easier over time, or does it remain just as hard? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Interesting perspective on waiting and how it’s approached in Kenya. It’s fascinating how cultural habits, like avoiding waiting, can reflect deeper attitudes toward patience. The connection between waiting in daily life and waiting on God’s timing is thought-provoking. It’s true that instant gratification is often expected, but the examples from the Bible really highlight the value of patience and trust. Your personal story with Endometriosis adds a raw, relatable layer to this discussion—how do you maintain hope during such long, uncertain seasons? Do you think society’s aversion to waiting makes it harder to accept life’s inevitable delays? I’d love to hear more about how you’ve navigated this balance between impatience and faith.
This reflection on waiting is quite thought-provoking. It’s interesting how the author draws parallels between everyday impatience and our spiritual journey. The examples from the Bible really emphasize how waiting is often a test of faith and patience. I’ve personally struggled with impatience in my own life, especially when it comes to delayed goals or unanswered prayers. It’s comforting to think that waiting isn’t necessarily a punishment but a process of growth. However, I wonder how one can truly learn to embrace waiting without feeling frustrated or abandoned. Do you have any practical tips for practicing patience, especially in moments of uncertainty? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
Waiting is indeed a universal experience, yet it’s fascinating how different cultures approach it. In Kenya, the urgency to avoid waiting seems almost ingrained in daily life, from supermarket lines to traffic. It’s interesting how this impatience mirrors our spiritual lives—we want immediate answers from God, yet His timing often requires patience and trust. The biblical examples of Abraham, Israel, and Noah are powerful reminders that waiting is part of a greater plan, even if it’s hard to see in the moment. Your personal story with Endometriosis adds a deeply human layer to this reflection—how do you maintain hope during such prolonged seasons of waiting? Do you think our modern, fast-paced world makes it harder to accept waiting as a natural part of life? I’d love to hear more about how you’ve navigated this balance between impatience and faith.
This text really makes you think about how we handle waiting in our lives. It’s interesting how in Kenya, people go to great lengths to avoid waiting, yet waiting is such a universal experience. The comparison to how we approach God and His timing is so relatable—we want instant answers, but life doesn’t work that way. The examples from the Bible, like Abraham and Noah, are powerful reminders that waiting is often part of a bigger plan. I also appreciate the connection to the seasons—it’s a beautiful metaphor for the unpredictability of life’s transitions. Your personal story with Endometriosis adds such a raw and honest perspective—it’s inspiring to hear how you’ve remained hopeful through it all. But I wonder, how do you personally find the strength to keep waiting when it feels endless? What keeps you grounded during those long seasons of uncertainty?