I know I can’t be the only one who thinks that waiting sucks.

Maybe you’re waiting for that job promotion, or a new job entirely. Maybe you’re waiting for that baby to arrive, or waiting to get pregnant. Maybe you’re waiting for prince charming to show up already, or waiting for your marriage to get out of that rut it’s in.

There’s a lot to be waiting on. And when it comes to things that we have no control over…it sucks.
As an English major in college I’m trying to find a better word than sucks (also as a mom who can’t let her kid say that word) but I’ve got nothing. Because it’s true you guys.

Waiting sucks. 

I’ve been doing the She Reads Truth Romans study and came across this the other day:

I’m not sure if you’re waiting for something, but let that all sink in.

I am. I’m waiting and have been waiting for something for a little bit now. I groan each time it doesn’t happen. I groan every time I see someone else get what I want. What I’ve been waiting for.

That’s the worst part too. Seeing other people get what we want. And we’re surrounded by it every day thanks to social media. I won’t sit here and say I don’t have my days where I wallow in self pity. When I ask God, “Ok, but I’ve been really trying to get that and they weren’t. Why do they get it so easily?”

And while I haven’t heard God speak the words exactly to me, I know He’s saying, “Because that’s not what I have for you right now, Megan.” 

And maybe I’m the only one who does this too, but then I start to do the, “Why can’t you just be happy with what you have?” thing with myself. Almost as if I’m asking too much right now, because what I do have is enough.

I keep reminding myself that God is a good, good Father. He sees me. He knows my heart and He knows the desires I have even before I speak them out load. Romans paints a beautiful picture of what hope in Jesus means and looks like. It’s a book I’ve read before, but this time around, it’s different. God’s cool like that.

I’m identifying so much with Paul this time around. When he grumbles about sinning (chapter 7), telling us that he wants to not sin, but does. I get that. I want to put all my trust in God, but I still try to do it all on my own. I don’t want to cry or be super envious of someone else when they get what I’ve been praying for months about…but I do. Paul tells us that we’re going to suffer.

This life with Christ, is and will never be a cake walk.

But we have this hope. 

And that hope in the One true God will give us peace.

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. -Romans 8:25

I know that Gods timing is much much better than mine. And I know that just asking and praying for what I want doensn’t mean it will happen tomorrow. My whole life I’ve always thanked God for having a plan better than mine. Looking back whenever God set me on a different path than what I had wanted it wasn’t easy. Tears were shed. My heart hurt.

But.

God.

He had a better plan.

So right now, I know that what I’m waiting for will happen one day. It just might not be the day I had imagined.

If you’re waiting like me, try really really hard to believe that truth. God loves us so much and He’s got us.

If there’s one thing that I am absolutely sure of, it’s that God equips us for the things He’s called us to.

I was reading Jeremiah the other day and found myself thinking over and over again, “Yeah, bro. I get it”.
God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, He knew long before Jeremiah was born that this was the call He had for his life. Scripture tells us that God was clear with this one.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” -Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah’s response was the same one I have, “God you’ve got to be kidding. Not me.” (paraphrased by me)
His response is just so…human.

I can’t really imagine, though, having a conversation with God, actually hearing Him speak to me and saying, “Yeah, but I can’t.” I like to think I’d be smart enough to just nod along, because hello. It’s God.

But Jeremiah is me. Maybe he’s you.

God calls him, tells him exactly what He wants him to do with his life and still he answers, “But maybe something different”.

He tells God he’s too young, and doesn’t know how to speak to people like that. He was afraid to speak these words God was giving him because they were unpopular at the time, no one wanted to hear them.

I often give God some excuses to.

I’m just a mom.
I don’t have time.
I need more sleep.
No one is listening/reading.
Little old me can’t make that big of a dent.

God equipped Jeremiah. Verse 17 in chapter one almost makes me laugh.
God says, “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.” (NIV)
“But you-up on your feet and get dressed for work! Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say.” (MSG)

Just like Jeremiah, God has called us into things in our lives. Maybe it’s preaching, or writing, or being a mother, or starting a non-profit, or being a youth leader. Whatever it is, God has equipped us.

We just have to get up, get dressed and start the work.

It’s tough, I know. But we have to let the presence of God in our lives, overcome any excuse we have or any fear we’re holding on to. Because friend, when we let God use us, glory filled Kingdom come things start to happen.

I’ve recently said yes to something big. And scary.
But my prayer over and over again has just been for God to equip me. To use me for His glory. That this big exciting thing I’ve said yes to would have His name all over it, and not mine.

Who knows how it’s all going to turn out, but what I do know,

is that God is equipping me.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”-1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

I came across this verse the other day and just about laughed.

That morning had just been one of thooose morning with Little Miss. Nothing seemed to work, the whining wouldn’t stop, and by 10am I was already counting down the hours until bedtime.

Sometimes, no all the time, God gives us these gentle reminders.
Reminders that life is actaully really, really good. And no matter what…we always have something to rejoice.

Does that mean it comes totally natural and easy to me?

Heck no, techno.

Not even in the slightest.

Let me expand on that super fun morning. I found Em playing in the dogs water, and not just playing in it, but soaking wet. Less than 20 minutes later I hear her drop something. Turns out I had left my drink on a table and she got it. Pop everywhere. She fussed almost the entire way on our walk, and when we got home, she was super mad I wouldn’t let her outside with Duke.

But then.

I turned the corner and she just looked up and gave me the biggest grin known to man.
I didn’t do anything, I didn’t say a word. She just looked up and smiled at me.

Now, I realize this won’t work later in her life. I know this mostly from trying it myself with my own mother. But right now, it totally works.

I found praise in that smile. In those cheeks I still want to eat off everyday. In the way that I can make her smile like that.
I gave thanks.

I’ve spent a good portion of my adult life (wait, am I an adult?) wondering what on earth God’s will for my life is. I think sometimes as Christians we’re worried we’ll miss that door or that opportunity if we aren’t careful. As if God has one thing for our life and that’s it, and if we miss it, than tough luck.

I’ve had it wrong for a really long time. That God’s will for my life is this big huge event. This big huge job. This big huge thing.

But that’s not the case. God’s will for our life is for us to praise Him, to rejoice in everything He’s given and done for us, to give thanks in everything, and to love on people.

I can do those things. I can really, really do those things.