Wait! Do you know how to make your next wait a sure success? Have you been watching the clock, looking back with regret, pondering the future, and waiting for things to change? To be honest, I’d love to know what you are waiting on today? Believe it or not, there is beauty in the wait. That is, if we allow ourselves the momentary pleasure of seeing through God’s eyes. Are you looking for some powerful ways to make your waiting more successful? I think we all are, don’t you?

Actually, I’m dying to share some really big news with you today, but I can’t. I have to wait. Seriously, I’m preaching to the choir today!

All too often, we are too distracted by or caught up in the emotion of it all to see the hand of God at work. In our daily lives, in the midst of waiting, we lose sight of the beautiful masterpiece being woven by the Master, Himself. In the long, dark days of waiting, there’s a tapestry of love woven into our lives. He weaves the most beautiful pieces of artwork from the never-ending threads of our sometimes weary, yet colorful, lives.

And I know God has made everything beautiful for its time. God has also placed in our minds a sense of eternity; we look back on the past and ponder over the future, yet we cannot understand the doings of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Voice)

It’s in the looking back where we finally see the full picture. Really, what was once only a glimpse becomes an awareness of all He accomplished.  In the long seasons of our wait, He is there. He sweetly waits with us in the details, especially in the little things. Though we may not understand it all, He makes all things beautiful in His time.

I don't know what you are waiting for today, but I do know God's timing is beautiful. Click To Tweet

I know everything God does endures for all time. Nothing can be added to it; nothing can be taken away from it. We humans can only stand in awe of all God has done. Ecclesiastes 3:14 (Voice)

The art of waiting for something…

To be highly skilled, to have the know-how, the knack, to have expertise, to become highly proficient at waiting through practice, a method, craftsmanship, to be studied in waiting well…the best way of waiting.

If you’re in a season of waiting, then while you wait, take some time and learn the art of waiting well.

Unfortunately, waiting is hard and no one is exempt. Waiting gracefully is even more difficult. We’ve all been there; chances are, you are waiting now. Perhaps, you’re waiting on a phone call, a diagnosis, a job, a spouse, a prodigal, or a child. We’re all waiting on something at some point in our life. It’s never easy and never short-lived. Yes, there’s a time and place for whining. But, we will never get through the wilderness of waiting if we wallow in our whining for very long. (Feeling like you’re in the wilderness? Here’s a link to my Wonders in the Wilderness post)

Our full destiny awaits us in our next destination, so if we are going to have to wait for it, perhaps we should learn how to wait well.

After thirteen years of waiting and praying, my husband, David, finally came to know the Lord. Now, that’s a successful wait.

Finally, He had come to the end of his self. I’ll never forget the day he gave his life to Jesus. At, 49 years old, this self-made, self-sufficient man surrendered his life into the hands of the One who had been waiting to meet his deepest need.

I thought that waiting for David’s salvation was going to be the longest wait of my life. But I have faced a longer wait still, waiting for our prodigal son to return home to His Heavenly Father. Though there’s been improvement, there is a mighty long way to go. Six years running feels like eternity; it is a deeper longing than I’ve ever known. Has he strayed too far, will he ever fully come back? I’m believing a hearty “Yes!” for every prodigal out there. At some point, they knew the love of their Father; they will remember.

Teach children how they should live; they will remember it all their life. Proverbs 22:6 (GNT)

Waiting has become an art form in my life. It’s messy at times, but I am determined to make my waiting a success.

Skillfully, a true craftsman, makes a mess, cleans it up, and practices his art again and again. I’ve had a lot of practice in this art form. Mastering some powerful keys, I’ve found what I think is the best way to make each wait a success.

6 Powerful Keys That Will Make Your Wait a Success

1. WORK while you wait
2. WELCOME the WISE
3. WORSHIP with abandon
4. Keep the WONDER
5. WATCH OUT
6. Stay WILD & UNWAVERING

Taking a look at the lives of Joseph, Ruth, David, Elizabeth, and the disciples, we can learn to make our wait a success too.

Truly, all successfully waited on something to breakthrough in their everyday lives, moving them into their full God-given destiny. In each case, it took a move of the Almighty’s hand to propel them into their position, provision, promotion, purpose and place in the Kingdom realm. None could see what a beautiful part of history their story would be in His Story. Their circumstances were not unlike ours; their situations were anything but beautiful in the beginning, but God. Each had a mess in their lives they didn’t cause and could not control. Additionally, each faced death in their own way. How they coped, made all the difference in the end.

JOSEPH’S SUCCESSFUL WAIT

Joseph faced his own death, or at least the story of his own death. After his brothers sold him into slavery, he was presumed dead and forgotten. But, over and over again, he proved himself faithful. He continued to WORK at whatever was placed before him, excelling and achieving great things. When famine sets in and his family comes to him starving, he’s finally in the position he’s been waiting for all his life. Remember, as a boy, Joseph innocently told his brothers about a dream where all the stalks of wheat bowed down to him. Now, the dream has become reality and his position saves his family and a nation.

“Come closer to me,” Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don’t feel badly, don’t blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives.” Genesis 45:4-5

RUTH’S REWARDING WAIT WAS A SUCCESS

Hopelessly, Ruth faced the death of her spouse, but somehow remained loyal to her mother-in-law. Following her to a new land, she left everything she’d ever known. Stranded without a husband, father, or male child to provide for her, Ruth desperately needed someone to take care of her needs. Working hard, she embraced the unwanted change. And, even when things didn’t turn out the way she thought they would for her life, she trusted in the Lord. Beautifully, Ruth WELCOMED the WISE counsel of her mother-in-law. She listened to her advice and obeyed everything Naomi told her to do.

“All that you say I will do.” Ruth 3:5

Patiently, she waited for PROVISION. Through Boaz, God came through in a mighty way for Ruth. Their love story is a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us as our Redeemer. Ruth’s prize: she’s listed in the lineage of Christ.

DAVID’S WAIT WAS A DRAG, BUT DEFINITELY A SUCCESS

Sadly, David faced the death of a king and his best friend. Although he had been appointed and anointed, he spent years on the run from Saul. In the midst of every battle, loss, and defeat, David WORSHIPED the Lord. He poured out his heart to God while he waited for his PROMOTION as the rightful king. Fearing for his life, David waited on the death of a king. During his wait, he endured the loss of his best friend in a battle he never wanted. But, through it all, he praised his King.

I pray to God—my life a prayer—and wait for what He’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning. Psalm 130:5 (MSG)

THOUGH SHE DIDN’T GET WHAT SHE WANTED WHEN SHE WANTED IT, ELIZABETH’S WAIT WAS A SHINING SUCCESS

In the most inspiring way, Elizabeth faced the death of a dream. Longing to hold a baby in her arms, she was sure it was not to be. She may have even faced the loss of miscarriages along the way, the Bible doesn’t share that part of her story. Barren, she’d been waiting for her PURPOSE for many, long years. They were good and just people in God’s sight, walking with integrity in the Lord’s ways and laws. Yet they had this sadness. Luke 1:6-7 tells us that due to Elizabeth’s infertility, they were childless. By this time, they were both quite old—well past normal childbearing years.

Remarkably, even when she didn’t get what she asked for, she continued to serve the Lord into her old age. She didn’t resent Him for not giving her what she wanted. Ironically, she never lost her sense of WONDER of Whom she served. She kept serving the Lord completely. She was known as a lover of God. Then, when she was old and gray, the most WONDER-FULL thing happened…she gave birth to John the Baptist, the forerunner preparing the way of our Lord.

YES, EVEN THE DISCIPLES HAD TO LEARN THESE POWERFUL KEYS WHICH MADE THEIR WAIT A SUCCESS

Finally, we can look at the disciples’ lives. They’d waited their entire lives for the Messiah, their Savior, only to face his death on the cross. Regrettably, they never saw the fulfillment of their dreams this side of Heaven. They died serving a risen King of another Kingdom. What did they do in their wait? They WATCHED everyday for His return. Watching the sky and waiting for the signs, each believing Jesus was coming back for them.

With great boldness, the disciples received the Great Commission and served the Lord for the rest of their days. Anxiously waiting for their part in an earthly kingdom, instead, they were given a PLACE in the Kingdom of God.

After the Lord Jesus had charged the disciples in this way, He was taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of God. The disciples went out proclaiming the good news; and the risen Lord continued working through them, confirming every word they spoke with the signs He performed through them. Mark 16:19-20

Specifically, Paul encourages us to WATCH AND WAIT with resolve.

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.

1 Corinthians 16:13 ( MSG)

AMAZINGLY, DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE ART OF WAITING WELL MAKE EACH OF THESE WAITS A TRUE SUCCESS

Surprisingly, they all had one thing in common. They were WILD about Jesus. Celebrating His goodness in the good times and the bad, they were UNWAVERING in their wait. Frankly, if we can also learn to practice these 6 powerful keys to waiting, I believe we will begin to see the beauty in our own wait. Getting a glimpse of the completed masterpiece gives us hope to carry on. My prayer is that while we wait, we never lose sight of the WONDER.

“In the end, sweet friend, what are you waiting on?”

Honestly, how do you hear these words? Negatively? Me too. If so, changing our perspective and how we hear those five little words can make a huge difference. What. Are. You. Waiting. On. Try hearing it this way…

“In my wait, what do I have to look forward to?”

Fortunately, our anticipation and expectation are safe with God. He is faithful and always has our best in mind.

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

Prayer: Father God, You are such a Good Daddy. Teach us to wait well. Help us to see You in the wait and learn to make each wait a success. While we wait, give us a glimpse of Your handiwork. We long to see the masterpiece You create in our lives. We trust You and we love You. Thank You for making everything beautiful in Your time.

© Amy Elaine Martinez and AmyElaine.com, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Amy Elaine Martinez and AmyElaine.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.