When everyone seems eager to get things done in the shortest time possible, waiting can be extremely difficult.
Think about it. How many times have you had to endure heavy traffic or long lines at the bus station just to get home? How many times have you checked your phone just to see if you already got that message you’ve been waiting for all day? How long have you waited for the results of the tryouts to come out?
For many of us, waiting can make us feel like we’re helpless against things outside of our control. We are hardwired to move, to adapt to changes. So when we can’t do anything but to wait, we feel powerless and weak.
Waiting for joy
Life doesn’t go always the way we wanted. Five years ago, my girlfriend had to leave for Japan to study for one year. The day she left was exactly five days after she said yes to me. I knew in my heart that we could overcome the challenges of being in a long-distance relationship. But I quickly learned that it would be almost next to impossible.
Each day became too unbearable. All I wanted was to hug her, to see her face-to-face, and to tell her how much I care for her. I felt we were robbed of opportunities to spend time together. Doubts crept in, and soon, we got into little fights and misunderstandings. It was frustrating not being able to talk things out properly. Saying “I’m sorry” through e-mail or over Skype seemed too impersonal. I couldn’t wait for her to come home.
When the massive earthquake struck Japan, almost all the foreign exchange students went home for a break, including her. Of course, I took the news gladly. I know six months may not be long for some, but it seemed like eternity for me. I was hopeful again.
I remember clearly the time when we fetched her from the airport. The moment I saw her walk down the ramp of the arrival area, the weariness of waiting went away. All of a sudden, all our little fights instantly seemed irrelevant. The joy I felt seeing her moving fleetingly through the crowd, smiling and waving at us, was simply overwhelming. She had to return to Japan for another six months, but I was more confident that we could get through it just fine.
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Why wait?
Being patient tests our resolve. When you’ve done everything you could to get what you want and you’re forced to wait, that’s when the real battle happens. That is when you know if you truly want that thing in the first place.
Real love teaches us to wait, and that’s what makes it genuine and heartfelt. You won’t realize what you’re capable of if you don’t learn how to be patient. Waiting may seem against our nature, but it helps us understand how long we’re willing to wait for something or someone we want.
When you have no other choice but to wait, it’s better to wait with joy and with hopeful anticipation of what lies ahead of you. Trust me, everything’s going to be better. God has everything planned down to the last detail.
