WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT: 3 Things that make the difference
As I write this, my wife Amber is in surgery.
For over 10 years Amber has navigated a neurological vocal condition called spasmodic dysphonia. She has seen specialists, doctors, gone to vocal therapy, scopes, scans…all that to say it has been a journey. This past fall, in October, she had surgery at UCLA. There was some improvement, but after further discussions with her doctor here, he thought that one additional surgery would bring the improvement and healing that we have been believing for.
Most readers know that Amber and I believe in a God that is more than able to heal! We believe that healing can come naturally, medically or supernaturally — it’s all ultimately from Him.
Some times healing comes quick.
Some times healing is a journey.
If I’m honest, it is challenging when its a journey because there seems to be a lot of waiting.
But what do you do while you wait?
There are a lot of common things we do as humans:
We worry
We get anxious
We get frustrated
We throw a pity party
We embrace denial
We question God’s goodness, His presence, or even His reality
We get angry
We get apathetic
Maybe you have been there. Maybe you are there.
For those who find themselves in a waiting moment, here are a few of my reflections and encouragements of what to do while you wait.
WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT: 3 Things that make the difference
FEED YOUR FAITH
It’s bee said, “What you feed grows, what you starve dies.” This is such an important reminder in the “waiting” moments of life. If you feed your worry or fear, it will grow. If you feed your anger and denial, it will grow. When we feed our faith, it has a chance to grow. An important reminder: Biblical faith never asks you to deny reality — it invites you to recognize a greater reality than your current circumstance. Feed your faith by reading scripture, getting around faith-filled people who will pray for and encourage you, pray and reflect on the goodness of God.
FOCUS ON THE GOOD
I know that this has the danger of sounding like some “self-help and work-hard-to-be-positive-no-matter-what” stuff. That isn’t what I am getting at. Often we can miss the good in the moment because we are consumed with all of the “what-ifs” that we can’t actually control. We often get robbed of the good of today because we are anxious about the things we can’t control tomorrow. What is the good that God has blessed you with today? How are you appreciating the moment with your kids, your spouse, your job, your church community, or the health that you do have?
FIND REST IN THE GOSPEL
Jesus has already done for you what you could never do for yourself. Through trusting in His life, death, and resurrection your peace, comfort, joy, forgiveness, freedom, significance, identity, and hope are secure. The Gospel is really Good News! Yes, the Gospel is something that I believe. But it is also something that I rest in. My life isn’t measured by my striving or my earning. This doesn’t just have implications for our salvation, it also has implications on how we navigate the “waiting moments” in life. I can be at rest — not because all the circumstances are what I wish them to be. I can find rest because Jesus is working for my good and for His glory.
Maybe for you, there is something you’re waiting for. There are a lot of things you can do while you wait. I’d encourage you to embrace the above three things that actually have the ability to make a difference.
Tyler
