I can’t say that I’ve ever run into anyone that has the hobby of waiting. Yet, there are so many parts of life that require us to take a deep breath and wait our turn. A trip to the DMV wouldn’t be complete without a wait. Doctors seem to build a wait time in the waiting room as a part of our visit. Waiting is a part of life that most of us simply don’t enjoy.
However, I’m convinced that waiting can make us better!
As young adult ministry leaders, we have the opportunity to help those in our groups understand and embrace the moments of waiting. We can help young adults see how seasons of waiting can shape our faith. There’s no denying that waiting develops within us a deeper trust and reliance upon Jesus. There’ll be the young man in your group waiting for that call for a job interview that he deeply desires. There’ll be the young girl that is waiting to hear if she is accepted into the graduate school that will propel her to her dream job. There are the young adults that are waiting for the “right” one to come along so that they can begin to think about the marriage they’ve dreamt of since they were a kid. There will be young adults that are always waiting in our groups—and we can help them understand and appreciate their wait!
The writer of Psalm 27:13-14 says: “I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait for the LORD.” (HCSB)
Here are some biblical truths to remind the young adults in your group who are in the midst of a season of waiting:
1. God actually tells us to wait.
God consistently reminds us in scripture to “wait on the Lord.” Even though our plan may look different, God commands us to wait on Him. God tells us not to get ahead of Him, but allow Him to show His power and work. You may even want to prepare a list of scripture passages that reveal this truth to share with your young adults.
2. God’s ways are so much better than any plan we could devise.
You’ll have opportunities to share stories with your young adults of the times that you waited for God’s best and times that you may have gotten ahead of Him. Be honest about the times that you’ve been required to wait, as well as how you’ve seen God work in those situations.
3. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5 reminds us that as followers of Jesus and as recipients of the Holy Spirit, patience is an attitude that we already possess. There is no picking and choosing of the fruit of the Spirit—as followers of Christ, we’re in possession of all of them. However, the enemy does not want us to remember that; he wants to steal that aspect of our identity.
So, the next time you’re waiting in the grocery store line or waiting on a phone call from the doctor with test results, remember that God tells us to wait. And in the middle of the wait, He will show us His power and His grace.
Mark Whitt is the Collegiate and Young Adult Specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources. Before joining Lifeway, he spent many years on the campus of Murray State University as a campus minister. Connect with Mark via Twitter.
