The Art of Waiting

Sometimes we get anxious when things don’t align with our plans. We want to fast-track our goals, like landing our ideal job, and become anxious when we don’t hear back right away. Or we might be torn about whether to go to law school while waiting for our papers to start anew in a different country. We might feel out of place in our current job, thinking we shouldn’t be doing mundane tasks anymore, but rather using our skills to make a difference, if not in the world, then at least in our own country.

When everything feels mixed up and chaotic, it’s easy to become impatient and frustrated. We might question ourselves and our capabilities, feeling unloved or unworthy of what we desire for ourselves or our family. It’s natural to feel like giving up sometimes. Often, when we force things to happen, it only complicates matters further and makes everything seem even more messed up.

Little do we realize, we need to learn the art of waiting. This art requires not only patience and acceptance but, most importantly, faith in the Lord.

We need patience, lots of it. Even instant noodles take three minutes to cook. But the most delicious delicacies need time to prepare before they’re ready to be served. Perhaps it’s the same with things in life. The more time something takes, the more special it becomes, and the more we can savor the success, joy, or sense of fulfillment it brings.

We need acceptance, which can be quite challenging. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that what we want may not be meant for us. Sometimes, we feel resentful or demotivated. But accepting that something isn’t meant for us, though it may be the hardest thing to do, is one of the most courageous choices we can make. We can choose to believe that someone else may need what we are asking for more, and we can find happiness in their success while trusting that something better, more fitting, is in store for us.

With that being said, the Lord always has a better plan for us than we might have for ourselves. We need faith in Him and must place our full trust in Him. It’s not just about being patient, but also having faith in prayer. It’s not only about accepting things, but truly believing in Him. This might be a broad concept to share, but I believe it’s at the core of waiting. As the Lord says, 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you' (Matthew 7:7).

I must admit, these things are not easy to do. But like any art, these elements make the process more meaningful and beautiful.

Patience. Acceptance. Faith in the Lord.

And that, I believe, is the art of waiting.