a history of grace

Sarah waited for at least 70 years to have a baby of her own.
jacob waited and worked for Laban for over 14 years so he could marry rachel.
the Israelites waited for 40 years to enter into the promised land.
Jesus waited 30 years before he began his ministry.
Paul waited for 3 years to begin his ministry after his conversion.

Throughout time and eternity, God has always worked in the times of waiting.  He has used these periods of waiting to better his people.  He waits until they are ready for the challenges ahead of them.

I am anxiously awaiting this next season of our lives to be over...and it has not yet even started.  as most of you know, michael will begin some traveling next month.  it is not a little bit of traveling.  it is a test of your spirit sort of traveling.  And though I am sad, I am reminded that I have had to wait through challenging times previously in my life.

i waited to be healed of myasthenia gravis.
i waited to get my braces off.
i waited to get married
i waited to be free from bad habits
i waited to find a job when no one would return a phone call
I waited to find friends in a new city

and the waiting sometimes took time.
7 years, 2 1/2 years, 3 years, 7 years, 3 months, 1 1/2 years.
God's timing is not my timing, but what he has done in the waiting has been nothing short of a miracle.

i was healed of myasthenia gravis - with no medication and no relapse, as if it never happened
i got great teeth
i got to know michael better in the year we spent long distance than i had in the two years we spent dating in person.  
i was set free from years of twisted and confused ways of eating
i got the perfect job with the perfect boss, at the perfect place when i had no license and no experience to qualify me
i found the closest of friends who will be a part of my life now and through eternity.

waiting is not fun.  but it is not fruitless.  there is a sweetness in the pains of waiting that make it all the more amazing when the waiting is through.

when 3 -5 months is over, i will be celebrating what the Lord has taught me about myself and my boys and about his goodness and faithfulness.  This is what my history of waiting has taught me as I look to my future of waiting.