What's your word? The word, that when said raises your temperature or makes your heartbeat just a little bit faster? The word that makes you feel anxious or uneasy as soon as it's said? For me, that word is "wait." Oh, I just can't stand the word... let alone the practice of waiting!

And yet, I believe that waiting may be exactly what God is calling us to in this season. Because whether we like it or not, we are waiting. Waiting to see the impact of the fourth wave of this pandemic, waiting to see if schools will be able to remain open the entire school year, and waiting to see what pieces of our lives we will have to adjust - again.

It's tempting to think that in the midst of this global pandemic that this "wait" is something new. Yet, the truth is that to be a person of faith is to be a person who waits. Christian author Tricia Lott Williford says it this way: "An alternative title for the Bible could be 'The Great Wait' and the cast of characters could be 'The Great Waiters.'"

Think about it: Noah waited for the rain. Daniel waited in a den full of lions. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the arrival of their promised son, Isaac. Joseph waited 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Moses waited 40 years to be called by God. And even Jesus waited 30 years to begin His ministry.

Here's what we notice about The Great Waiters of the Bible: They were flawed (with the exception of Jesus) and no better at waiting than we are.

And yet, we can learn something from their waiting. While Noah waited for the rain, he got busy with what he had - a lot of wood and some very specific measurements. As Daniel waited, he remained faithful in prayer and firm in his convictions - despite the expectations of others. As Moses waited, he didn't stop moving - despite the many detours to his journey. While Joseph waited in prison, he didn't waste his energy on the question, "Why must I wait?" Instead, he focused his sights on answering, "What should I do while I'm waiting?" He kept dreaming and listening to the dreams of others while he waited. And as God continued to connect the dots, he was ready when the wait was over.

Here's what we see in each of these stories: There is always work to be done - even while we wait.

Sometimes the work is hands-on and physical, and other times it's a solitary journey of soul-searching. Sometimes the work is public and other times the work is only between us and God. But, when we choose to believe that every moment is a part of a larger constellation of dots God is connecting, we can trust that waiting on God is never wasted time.

May we wait with faith that God is always at work in us, through us, around us, and even in spite of us.

Yours in the wait,

Pastor Nicole

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