Carrie Baker – The Growth Collective

If you feel like you are in a season of waiting, this is for you.

We have all had seasons of waiting. It is one human experience that can connect every single of one of us to each other. 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?

We can feel frustrated with God over these seasons, we can even see them as a punishment. But what if the waiting seasons are FOR us?

What if we could reframe those seasons of waiting, by acknowledging their many benefits to us? What would happen if we learned to accept and even embrace those seasons as opportunities to grow? We could have a very different experience of the waiting season, and come through it being better prepared for whatever awaits.

Are you ready to change how you feel about waiting? Let’s go…

1. Waiting is a Time of Preparation and Growth

Our life moves through various seasons of waiting. We are waiting to meet ‘the one’, to have children, to save enough, to move up the career ladder, waiting for that opportunity, test results, etc. Some of these periods of waiting are just days or weeks, or they can last years.

Waiting can be challenging and while you feel unsure as to whether that thing will ever happen, it’s good to remember that these seasons are not God’s punishment. But actually, they are a time of preparation and growth.

“those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Isaiah 40:31

I love how this verse encourages you to see waiting as a time to lean in closer to God and allow Him to renew your strength.

During your seasons of waiting, God gives you an opportunity to deepen your relationship with Him through prayer, meditating on, and studying His Word. It’s in these quiet moments that you can look to Him to guide you, and give you the wisdom you need.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Psalm 27:14

What a great reminder, that as you patiently wait for God’s timing, your faith is strengthened, when you see the way that He continues to be faithful. It’s in those moments, you learn to trust in His plan for your life.

2. Waiting Grows Patience and Trust

One of the most valuable lessons you can learn during seasons of waiting, is patience and trust in God. Living in a fast-paced world where instant gratification is a subconscious expectation, having to wait for something, can feel uncomfortable and frustrating.

If you’ve been around church for any longer than 5 minutes, you’ll have heard that ‘God’s timing is perfect’. Sometimes you will be able to look back and see how that particular situation happening in the timing it did, (and not when you wanted it to) dovetailed beautifully in a way you could never have made happen.

The Lord uses times of waiting, to develop patience within you, because He doesn’t MAKE you suddenly patient. He gives you opportunities to GROW in patience, and to CHOOSE to be patient.

Seasons of waiting help you to develop your trust in the Lord, because in the waiting, that’s all you can do sometimes…. Hope and trust that He will make it all work out in the end.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

This verse is a great reminder that you can trust in God’s wisdom and guidance, even when you don’t understand His timing.

Through waiting, you have the opportunity to surrender (we do not love that word), your desires and plans to God, acknowledging that His ways are higher than your ways:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts… ”

Isaiah 55:9

Surrendering, is just like saying, “Here are my plans Lord, I’d love for it to happen but I give them to you. Not my will Lord, but Yours.” When you surrender those things to God, it teaches you to rely on His faithfulness and sovereignty in your life.

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Romans 8:25

When you patiently wait upon the Lord, you grow in your ability to trust Him completely.

3. Waiting Builds Character and Humility

Waiting plays a significant role in shaping your character. It’s in these seasons that your faith is tested, and your character is refined.

“because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:3-4

Waiting allows you to develop endurance and perseverance, strengthening your character.

Because the Lord knows that we all need our character to be ready for the things He is preparing us for. These words may feel challenging, but remember that the Lord leads you through this for your good and benefit.

Waiting encourages to you grow in humility. Whenever you face delays or obstacles, you’re reminded of how much you depend on God. It’s humbling to acknowledge that none of us are in control, we all need God’s guidance and help.

“I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?”

Psalm 62:5

When you come to the place of being able to recognise that He is the source of all your hope, and understanding that all you need comes from Him, it is so releasing. You can be free to say “I’ll wait as long as he says…”. Knowing that He has it all in hand, you don’t need to waste time or energy worrying and trying to work out the unknowable ‘WHEN’.

To recap what we have covered:

1. Waiting is a Time of Preparation and Growth : God uses this time to grow and prepare us for the season ahead. He wants us to be ready so we can succeed.

2. Waiting Grows Patience and Trust : Waiting gives us opportunity to grow in patience, and sometimes the only way we can walk through those seasons, is to trust in the Lord.

3. Waiting Builds Character and Humility : Waiting grows our character in the ways we will need it to, for what lays ahead. God is building the foundation to sustain what he has for you. Learning that we aren’t in control, teaches us the humility to wholly rely on God for everything.

Friend, if God is leading you through a season of waiting, that season is for your benefit. It is your preparation for what He has for you.

In Part Two of this blog post we will cover 4 more points on the benefits of waiting. I can’t wait to hear how this mental shift in your thoughts towards waiting seasons, will help you lean into them.

I am so excited for all the ways you are growing friend, and how these seasons that the Lord leads you through will benefit you in new ways.

Come and join the community, and receive weekly encouragement and love in your inbox from me – absolutely no spam here! You can sign up here!

Sending you love for all the new seasons that await you.

Carrie xxx

If you enjoyed this blog post, or felt encouraged and inspired, you can show me by: 1. Sharing it on your socials or with a friend. 2. You can tell me by leaving a comment or popping me an email (carrie.baker.writer@outlook.com). 3. Or you can fuel my writing day and love me with coffee here!

Further Reading:

Living Within Your Season – Part One

Living Within Your Season – Part Two

One Step At A Time.