I have come to the conclusion I am in a season of wait.
Ever been there?
WAIT : to remain in a state in which you expect or hope that something will happen soon
: to not do something until something else happens
All my life I’ve seemed to have direction. I felt “guided” at every crossroad. Since I believe God is sovereign and in control of all things, I believe that guidance was from my Creator. He led me to my husband, to each job, to my business, to our home, to BSF, to everything.
He even led me out of jobs, as with the last one I held for years. With no other job waiting for me, I left to take care of my family, and to fall back on my Mary Kay business. (Blessings!)
For the last three months I’ve been home. We’ve had more homemade meals in these three months than I’ve made in the last three years. (Smile.) This has given me the opportunity to grow in and pursue my love of writing, and to take some time to be refreshed and restored. I’ve enjoyed being home, and I believe this is where I’ve needed to be.
Yet, I have an unsettledness inside of me, with a burning question…
“What do you want me to do with my life, God?”
For the first time, I feel I don’t have direction. Worry creeps in when I look at the drop in our family income. Yet, as I look at the last three months, God has provided incredibly. Some people would say (and some have), “Just go get a job.” Yes, well, it’s not quite that simple. I’ve learned the hard way to not go do what I want to do. I want to do what God wants me to do.
And so I wait.
I wait for direction as I pray for God to show me. Am I to write full-time? Am I to stay home for Zach’s last year of high school? Am I to pursue a job that’s bigger than the one I left, which will most likely pull me from my family more? Am I to grow my business to where it used to be? I wait. I pray. I listen. I trust. And I cling to this promise:
Lord, make my paths straight. Until I get an answer, I will continue on with what I know to do. I will continue with what’s in front of me, until God directs me to do something different.
Friend, are you in a time of wait? I pray this encourages you! Have you experienced one and could share some encouragement or thoughts? I’d love to hear from you. And, I covet your prayers for God’s direction!
Trusting & waiting,
Julie
Waiting. Wow! Has God been teaching me about waiting! I can relate to your moments of unsettledness and anxiety. I’ve been there. I’m still there some days. We, too, have been learning to live on a greatly reduced income, but I’ve seen God supply for our needs and then some. I don’t know what is in His plan for our future, so we’ve learned to take things one day at a time, and be watchful. Ever watchful for what He wants us to do each day. But this waiting period has not been a period of doing nothing. There is much work to be done for the kingdom. Sometimes I think God uses the waiting seasons to direct our focus and slow us down so we will be ready and see where He is leading. Praying for you, Julie. May God bless your family and your writing.
Sabra, your words blessed me. Thank you! I agree with you. Yes, it’s been a time of being active while waiting. There is much to do for His kingdom and that excites me. Thank you also for sharing your experience of how God has continued to provide for you, and then some! Such a hope we have in Jesus! I will be praying for you as well. Thank you for your prayers! You’re a blessing to me!
Julie