Middle Ground

Right now I'm hanging out in this transition part of my life. Michael and I have moved out of our apartment and in with his parents for a month as our house is nearing completion. These transition periods in our lives can be so frustrating sometimes. We've almost got what we want, but we have to wait for it. Patience.

The human race is obsessed with the finish line. We climb corporate ladders and are dissatisfied until we are at the very top. We run marathons, ultras, century runs for the elation of crossing the finish line. We have phrases like "Go for the gold" that encourage us that everything will be worth it in the end.

But ... what about right now? What about the exhausting, frustrating task of waiting? Waiting for that dream job to open up so you can finally get out of the horrible job you're stuck in. Waiting until you're old enough to get married. Waiting until college starts so you can move out of your parent's house. Waiting until your house is finally done being built. Waiting...

Our pastor calls it "Wait Training." Building up our spiritual muscles while we wait. There's something mysteriously beautiful about waiting. Maybe it's the curiosity of Christmas Eve. Maybe it's joy of a new baby that will soon be in your arms. Waiting can be one of the most frustrating tasks ever. It felt like forever before Michael finally proposed. Every day became agonizing. Yet, the frustration changed nothing.

I'm sitting here in my in-law's house, our life in boxes in the garage, and I have a choice. I can be frustrated. Why can't the house be done already? Why couldn't the apartment complex stretch our lease just one more month? What if the sale falls through? But at the end of the day, I would have just wasted  month of my life being frustrated and anxious.

I challenge all of the "waiters" out there to praise God for this time period. Praise God for the blessing that is to come. Praise God for the fact that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Praise God for the wonderful things that you had before this waiting period came and for the joy you will once again experience when it's over. And praise God for His plan. That He is never late, never early. That He has chosen that specific time that you (move out, have the baby, get that job, get married) for a reason. Praise Him for His wisdom. How many stupid things would you have done if you didn't have to sit around and wait? Praise God that sometimes waiting gets us out of a situation we wouldn't have wanted to be in. And praise God for His promise. That it IS worth it in the end. Just remember that whatever you're waiting for, that's not the finish line. Wait on Heaven.