By Liz Giertz, Contributing Writer
Has God planted a dream in your heart?
A deep-seeded desire that you just can’t seem to shake.
Maybe starting a ministry or a business. Perhaps writing a book or running a marathon. It could be working toward a degree by returning to school or even starting a family.
Have you been waiting for what feels like an eternity for your desire to take root? For sprouts to emerge proving progress? For it to finally bear fruit?
When we lived in Colorado I decided to plant 100 tulip bulbs along the far fence in our back yard. It was sweaty, back-breaking, blister-producing work. All during the drudgery, I kept my mind focused on the splendor these beauties would grace my yard with come Spring. I might have quit ,if not for imagining what was to come.
But the hard part started after I replaced the last clods of dirt over the holes and returned my garden gloves to the garage.
The waiting.
As the long winter months gave way to warmer weather, I became increasingly anxious to see the first leaves break through the earth. With each day that passed, I began to question myself. Was the climate less than ideal for this variety? Were there enough hours of sunlight there? Could a lack of precipitation stall progress? Did the soil have the proper nutrients to support growth? Were the bulbs I bought damaged?
I began to wonder if I’d ever see the fruits of my labor.
For a variety of reasons my own dream of growing my small business into a vibrant and thriving part of the community has been been stalled for several years. My soul is yearning to attain my ambitions now. The waiting can be overwhelming. It makes me wonder if maybe I heard my calling wrong. Or if I’m not really good enough to pull it off. Or if I’ve just been wasting my time working for something that’s never going to happen.
Can you relate?
I found five things that help me keep the wondering at bay while I’m waiting:
- Rest in Him. So often I get caught up in doing, I forget that I don’t have to be “on” all the time. In fact, God commanded us to power down once a week and rest. God is more concerned with my being with Him than my doing for Him. Don’t waste the waiting with worthless working – you’ll need your strength when it’s time to strike!
- Remember His faithfulness. While we wait, we can focus on all that God has already done. Being reminded of the ways He has provided for and blessed me help me to let go of my concerns and be assured He will continue to meet my every need. Remembering His past provision helps me stay steady in the present.
- Remain steadfast in your faith. Not achieving my goals in life shouldn’t be cause to abandon my faith. My faith assures me of my place in the Kingdom of Heaven, but doesn’t promise prominence here on earth. Don’t doubt your eternal position because of your temporary circumstance.
- Replenish your spiritual strength. Flexing your spiritual muscle through prayer, scripture meditation, and by studying the Word will help strengthen your connection with the Creator. The stronger that is, the better able you’ll to handle the challenges of pursuing your passion.
- Refine your vision. Sometimes our dreams are refined while we wait. There have been many different versions of my vision. With each iteration, the view becomes clearer and more polished. Enduring long periods of waiting doesn’t mean we abandon our aims. Instead, it gives us a chance to perfect the plan.
All five of these strategies help us prepare to fully embrace the season of growth when the time is right.
Instead of despairing when waiting turns to wondering, prepare!
Liz Giertz is a Veteran turned Army wife and mom to two boisterous boys who and one shelter dog who provide endless writing material. Until the next set of orders arrive, they call FT Hood, Texas home.
Liz is passionate about encouraging women to overcome MESSES, embrace MEMORIES, and become the MASTERPIECES God created them to be.
You can connect with Liz on her blog, My Messy Desk , as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
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