5 Reasons to Play the Waiting Game

Is Waiting a Choice?

Unfortunately, you don’t choose to play the waiting game. Normally, it’s forced upon you. Some disciplined folks decide to wait in case something better comes along. Or, maybe they just want to add to their character or develop the Fruit of the Spirit.

​Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

During our 16 month nomad journey, we’ve had to wait numerous times. Sometimes, God didn’t reveal the next camp or ministry along our way until a few days or weeks before. In one instance, it happened two weeks AFTER we were intending to move on. As we waited for our new home to be completed, the closing date was moved three times, but thankfully only two weeks at a time. In the end, we waited a total of 4 weeks longer to step foot into our townhouse as new occupants.

This was the first benefit we discovered in our nomad period:

you begin seeing the benefits of doing without or waiting for the desired event or object.

Even though it was frustrating to tote our belongings in two cars the entire 16 months, we began to see a pattern: we were brought to the camps/organizations for ‘such a time as this’. In each instance, we were told we filled a need at just the right time. If you wait with open eyes and hearts, you will see God had a purpose in it all.

In each location, it was necessary to live life a bit differently. We’ve lived in a two bedroom apartment, a double wide trailer, a cabin and lastly, a beach house. Sometimes dishes and bakeware were supplied, but other times, I would purchase items from the local Goodwill, and donate them when we left. Although each place had Wi-Fi, the cabin in the woods had internet connection only during the week, since the source (Wi-Fi portable receiver) would be given to whatever camp director was running the event that weekend. 

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Which leads to our next point:

You find other ways to navigate your situation while you wait.

I learned to do most of my online author’s tasks during the week, leaving the weekend for outings with my hubby. I also worked long hours in the kitchen every other weekend, so Wi-Fi access wasn’t an issue.

I also learned to brew my tea in a Yeti insulated mug and bake a small cake in a Pyrex food storage container, since I had no baking dishes. 

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This next one was a surprise:

You discover it wasn’t important to you anyway.

Before we moved, it was my habit to never leave the house without earrings, perfume or makeup. If I ever walked out without any of the three (I warned my husband), you’d know something was not right. 

As I left the house early for my kitchen shift, I didn’t want to spend the time putting on makeup or earrings. In fact, the staff urged me to leave my wedding ring at home, since it could get caught on machinery, even while wearing gloves. So guess what? I stopped wearing any jewelry except for special occasions (like church or dinner date/field trip). Even then, I walked out of the house without it, with the exception of my wedding ring. 

I also cut down on my beauty routine. No more eyebrow pencil, extra moisturizer or eye shadow. Even eye liner was eliminated on a normal day. I’ve been known to go out to our mailbox in my house dress (which looks like a comfy lounger) without a shower or makeup (horrors) and be met by my soon-to-be neighbors. Wow. I’ve really loosened my standards.

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Which lead to this observation:

You find out there was a better solution to the situation anyway, and you had time to think it through.

During our waiting period, I dreamed of purchasing all kinds of gadgets and accessory furniture to organize and enhance our living space, including end tables and coffee tables. Turns out, only a few things were necessary.

​I thought I wanted a wooden coffee table with a top that raised to lap height as a surface for eating a meal while watching TV.  Well, when I saw this square soft side foot rest that could double as a surface for a tray with drinks and appetizers, I was smitten. There was no turning back! But, it took time for me to analyze our needs.

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So, what was the grand assessment of of our 16 month nomad waiting journey??

You appreciate what you have waited for so much more!

This one is self-explanatory. It's the best result of playing the waiting game-- GRATITUDE!

What about you? Have you been caught in the waiting game? Are you at the point where you are able to see the benefits of your situation? 

​Please let me know in the comments below!