Waitin' on the World to Change... or Me... or God's Timing... or the Weather.

I think we all have moments in our life where we are left "in waiting." We are use to having to wait in lines at Disneyland or Cafe Rio, for someone important to call or text, or for the clock to hit 5:00 pm after a long day at work. However, we never really get use to waiting on the "next step" or next big event in our life.  Both are obnoxious at moments and sometimes impatience can set in... We just want to be where we planned in life - whether that's riding space mountain, eating a pork salad, or graduating from Grad School after a few long years.  However, I have come to learn that it's how we deal with the "waiting time" that says the most about our character and mental health.

We can't always choose our emotions.  We can't.  Anyone who says it's that easy doesn't understand the majority of people in this world.  Emotions come and go like summer and fall, but allowing those emotions to set-in and consume us is often our choice.  We have the ability to use our actions and surroundings to change our emotions.  One way to do this... service.

I recently read an amazing talk by a woman named Christy Nelson. She states:

 "Most everyone has experienced anxiety or anticipation while waiting for something. As a single adult, I certainly have learned what it means to wait. For this reason Isaiah 40:31 has come to have special meaning for me: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (emphasis added). Many of us dread waiting, but through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord tells us that waiting can actually be a good thing.

So what kind of waiting was Isaiah describing? The Hebrew word translated as wait also means “hope for” and “anticipate” (Isaiah 40:31, footnote a). To add my own interpretation, I like to think of waiting in terms of a waiter at a restaurant. In this sense, to wait on someone is to serve that person. A good waiter—or server—gives his or her customers excellent care and attention by checking in often, learning their desires, and attending to them. When I adopt this attitude toward the Lord, it adds purpose to the time I spend awaiting a particular blessing. In fact, time seems to pass more quickly when I am diligently working to serve God. Ironically enough, it’s through this work that I “renew [my] strength.”

The same amount of time will pass whether I am squandering it in anger and impatience or using it to serve the Lord and His children. Choosing to “wait upon the Lord”—or viewed another way, to serve Him—yields far more satisfying results. This choice also helps me remember that because Heavenly Father’s greatest desire is to bless His children with what will ultimately help us be happy, He will not only give me what I need, He’ll also give it at the time that is best for me."

Now, I'm not one to preach on this topic... I can be a sucky waiter.  Haha!  No, but really... I put on a good face, but I do get a bit anxious at times.  I'm only human.  However, this article and thinking on the topic these past weeks has changed my outlook just a little bit.  I have taken an approach of service and focusing on what I can do for others.  I'm waiting on others in the service attitude, rather than just meaninglessly killing time.  It's a much happier state to be in because you're constantly DOING something... I hate just sitting around waiting... it drives me mad.  Thus, an attitude of focusing on others not only blesses your life, but those you're serving... It's brilliant.

So, in conclusion, I'm gonna stop waitin' on the world to change... and go out there and change it myself.
*muah*

Song of the Day:  I'm currently obsessed with this jam - perfect to drive to and sing to as loud as you'd like.... Here is Nikki Williams with "Glowing."  Enjoy!