I think I am learning a little bit of a lesson in waiting. Waiting is NOT one of my strengths. I hate waiting. Not only do I hate waiting, but I am a very impatient person. But over the past month I have been forced to wait. I waited over two weeks to receive my hardcopy of my CDL. I waited about three weeks to begin orientation for my new job. During the two and a half days of orientation, I had to wait to find out that I definitely had the job. Now, I find myself waiting for a trainer. Even though I am getting paid while I wait for a trainer, I don’t want to wait. I want to get going now. I could call the training department every hour or even every minute. Of course, I know that would be fruitless. If they don’t have a trainer available for me, my constant calling them isn’t going to change the situation. So, I wait, knowing that they know I’m here. And I also know that they  know that my sitting and waiting is only costing them money. In fact, until I complete my training, and am assigned my own truck, they know that I’m not even making the company money.  So I know their plan is not for me to sit around waiting for very long. I know that they will get me out with a trainer as soon as possible.

But what do I do while I wait? Fortunately, I have some training material that has to be completed before my training is over. I work on reading, and completing the written material.

Many times God has us wait on Him. What do we do with that time we are waiting. I hate to admit it, but I have usually been guilty of spending that time whining, and complaining. To be honest, I haven’t suddenly changed over night. But I am trying to see where God is working, and what He may be trying to teach me. Nothing I do or say is going to make God move any faster. Just because I am in a waiting pattern on something does not mean he has forgotten about me. God has a plan. Often, my job is to simply trust and follow the instructions He has given me.
I’m the meantime, I continue to prepare.

How do we prepare? God has provided us with training material; we call it the Bible. Just as I have to read the company’s training material to familiarize myself with my new company and job, I have to read my Bible to get familiar with God, and to know what He desires of me. As I do so, I also find myself not only getting familiar with Him, I find myself drawn into a relationship with Him, and with others who also have a relationship with Him. In so doing, I also become better prepared for whatever task He may call me to complete. And sometimes, our task is to simply “Be still.” And wait.

I still don’t like to wait. But I’m trying to learn to use the waiting time wisely. To prepare for the next task, next crisis, or next miracle that God desires me to be a part of.