9 Tips for When Waiting Well Feels Impossible

Y’all, I’m so excited for today’s guest post by Lori Schumaker!  Her story is powerful, especially because I’ve always wanted to adopt like she did.  If there’s anyone who gets waiting and walking through the tough stuff, it’s Lori.  Today, she’s sharing about waiting well.  Wait, what?  Yup, there is a right and a wrong way to wait.  I’m betting that the way I wait behind traffic is not waiting well.  Nevermind that it’s my own fault I’m running late! I suppose that’s why Lori wrote this…for me.  You’re just lucky I’m sharing with you. =D

By the way, this post is part of the Moments of Hope Link Up!  Check out all these great blog posts full of HOPE!  

This page contains affiliate links – they don’t cost you a penny, but they sure help to pay off those student loans!  For more information, please see my disclosure page.

Hurry Up!

Let’s go!

We’re late!

It is the world we live in. It is fast-paced and performance-driven. The more we complete, the more we succeed by the world’s standards.

But there is an imbalance in our lives. We have a growing propensity for immediate gratification which has, in turn, caused impatience to become a viral monster. Not to mention it is contrary to our faith in Christ.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”We have a growing propensity for immediate gratification which has, in turn, caused impatience to become a viral monster. – @lori_schumaker via @RealWorldBible” quote=”We have a growing propensity for immediate gratification which has, in turn, caused impatience to become a viral monster.”]

We want to hurry God, but impatience simply doesn’t work in His world.

Whether it’s the check-out line in the store, the red lights on the way to our destination, or the wait in the women’s restroom line, waiting doesn’t feel good to us.

So, when it comes to the big waits in life like waiting for our dreams to come to fruition, for healing to come, or for the storm to pass, the wait is often brutal.

I learned a lot about waiting during our family’s adoption process. And then I learned even more about it after our daughter came home and we continued to wait for answers, for healing, and for wholeness.

Adoption is a hurry up and wait situation from beginning to end. In my book, Surrendered Hearts: An Adoption Story of Love, Loss, and Learning to Trust, I wrote:

“We were told it would be another two-to four-week wait for the Ministry to meet and decide if they would approve us. Wait. Again. My flesh screamed at the prospect of waiting, yet I chose to trust. Nothing could alter God’s plans. He’d proven that to me already. He would not forget us, nor would anything separate Selah or us from His love.”

Friends, my flesh did scream. I didn’t want to wait yet again to bring our daughter home. She was in an orphanage without the love of a family – without much love at all. Malnourished and weak, she needed us. But we had to wait to get to her.

I don’t think any of us ever arrive when it comes to waiting well. It’s an ongoing process. One that takes intentional effort every day. However, I do think there are steps we can take to help us wait well.

9 Tips to Help You Wait Well:

#1 Pray

Thank God for the work He is doing in You and will continue to do. Praise Him for the writing of perfect stories. For His perfect timing. Share with Him the burdens on your heart. Cry out for what aches. Ask Him to be your strength, your wisdom, your guidance, your joy. Be bold. Ask Him for all that you need, but surrender to Him, accepting that it be His will that is done.

#2 Keep encouraging scripture at the forefront of your mind.

There is a great printable list HERE of verses for while you wait. (see the bonus resources in the margin)

#3 Remember that all we have belongs to God.

Including our bodies and our minds. It is on loan to us from a dear Friend. How will we treat it? Abuse it? Wear it out? No. How we use what He gives us matters!

#4 Trust Him with what He gives us and what He takes away.

#5 Keep gratitude front and center.

#6 Choose joy.

God provides us moments to treasure along the journey. Some are incredibly small and some are great big. Be looking for each one. Acknowledge them and embrace them.

#7 Live each day fully.

Living doesn’t have to wait until the goal is accomplished. Don’t find yourself saying, “I’ll be happy when   _______.” Be happy now. In spite of your circumstances.

#8 Focus on God instead of circumstances.

If we focus on the moves He is making rather than the condition of our circumstances, we will see progress and we will see Him. Focusing on our circumstances keeps us stuck in negativity. It is a mind shift that makes all the difference while we wait.

#9 Stay productive and engaged in more than just the goal.

Keeping our mind, body, and soul engaged in things keeps us from hyper-focusing or losing sight of other important things.

Each of us is on our own life journey. We are faced with unique situations and unique durations of waiting. Today, I encourage you to believe with everything in you that God’s timing is the right timing. Even when it doesn’t feel that way. Believe it – someday you may see that from the perspective of the other side of this wait. But, honestly, there’s a chance you may never get that luxury. You may see bits and pieces, but all our answers may never come during our time here on this earth.

But I promise you. God loves you and wants the best for you. Live surrendered. Trust. And know that He will make a way and everything will somehow, someway be okay.

Surrendered Hearts is our story of learning to fully live surrendered. It’s our story of learning to trust that somehow, some way, it will all be okay. You can find out more HERE and purchase the book HERE.

About Lori

As wife, adoptive and biological mom, teacher, writer, speaker, and coach, Lori’s heart is to encourage others to meet the challenges of life with the hope of Christ. Wherever you find yourself today – walking through the difficult, longing to find your identity and follow your purpose, or simply experiencing a season of beautiful chaos, Lori’s blog found at www.LoriSchumaker.com is a place where you can find the encouragement you need today. In her first book she shares her family’s adoption story and lessons on surrender, trust, and loving well. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest