Waiting
- Jul 4, 2019
- 4 min read
Waiting is rarely fun.
Waiting for labor to start
for your biopsy results to arrive
for your NCLEX score to be posted
for your travel visa to be approved
to see whether the medical treatment is having a positive effect
for the jury to make a decision
for your Amazon package to arrive...
No matter the "gravity" of the situation, we do not generally enjoy waiting. It can be stressful and leave us feeling helpless.
I do believe, however, that waiting is important and valuable, and that we can learn many things in these times.
What, exactly, can we learn in the waiting ? I can think of a few things, although I'm sure there are many more...
Waiting gives us the opportunity to grow in the fruits of the Spirit, as even the most gentle, patient and loving among us are pushed to their limits in the face of the unknown, pressed under the weight of stress.
Waiting teaching us to chill. When we've done all we can do, when the verdict is no longer in our hands, all we can do is sit back, take a deep breath, and drink a glass of wine (just one or two, mind you), read a novel, get a massage, pray.
Most importantly, we learn to let go of control and trust. Ultimately, our Savior sovereignly holds all things in His hands and it is a beautiful -though difficult- process learning to truly TRUST in Him. Being forced to wait is a wake-up call that reminds us of how powerless we are when we strive to produce results without remembering to rest and abide in our Heavenly Father.
So yes, waiting may not be fun, but it can be very fruitful. So let us wait with confidence that He works all things (even long periods of waiting) together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).
This has been a long period of what I would call active waiting for David, Jude and I. Let's see if I can effectively describe what this means...
I (Elise) began my job search back in February, shortly after arriving in the U.S. As you may know from reading our blog, it was a much longer and slower process than expected, and my "waiting" was more like continuing to apply and interview for countless jobs while waiting for the right door to open.
David began the process of applying to school and moving towards getting his student visa back in September. His "waiting" has been completing one step, waiting for that one to finalize before moving onto the next and then once again having to wait before being able to move forward. Each new step meant more paperwork, meetings, and waiting.
We expected to find and move into our own place rather quickly once crossing the U.S. border, but due to visa issues and the lengthy job-hunting process, there again we have been forced to wait. (And thank God for my parents who have allowed us to stay in their basement all this time ! We love being with family).
David and Jude left for Switzerland at the end of May, where David had to interview for his visa at the U.S. embassy. This was possibly the hardest waiting of all, as he found himself being a full-time single parent to a very active toddler and I found myself "alone" and missing my men like crazy ! (My heart goes out to families who live long periods of separation due to deployment, work, death, or other situations. May God give you strength !).
So, while we were continuing to work and move forward in each of these processes, we were also waiting for doors to open and things to fall into place.
And I am so thrilled to announce the most of our waiting is over !
In short (and you can ask us personally for more details if you want to really understand the miraculous nature of these events):
-I was offered the one full-time job that I truly wanted (out of who knows how many I applied to) the day before I left to visit David and Jude in Switzerland ! This is my first week of work and so far I LOVE it !
-David finally received his student visa the very day that I arrived in Switzerland.
-We had barely begun looking for housing when we found the perfect apartment in White Bear Lake, 1 block from the beach, 1 mile from my job, 1.5 miles from David's college and literally next door to what seems to be a wonderful daycare for Jude ! The apartment had a waiting list 16 people long before we were added...somehow (God) we made it to number one on the list and are simply waiting for a final "yes" before being able to move in !
-Jude, David and I were able to spend a wonderful two weeks together in Switzerland after my school nurse job ended and before I began my new position as a home health nurse. We were intentional about having some truly refreshing time together as a family (without overcharging our schedule with visits, which is harder than it may sound), and we enjoyed a nice road trip to visit the beautiful Italian part of the country.
-Jude and David arrive back in the U.S. on July 20th after visiting some of our dear friends in Quebec !
Uffda !
I'll try to wrap up quickly.
Thank you for your prayers during this time of transition and waiting. Thank you, God, for your faithfulness to our family. May we all continue to learn that the waiting is worth it, and instead of complaining and worrying, may we look for the opportunities to learn and grow in seasons of stand-by.
"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him" Psalm 37:7
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord !" Psalm 27:14
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning." Psalm 130:5-6
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