Waiting. Patiently.

As my life’s path has crossed with other women, I have noticed a common theme among so many of us.

We are often women in waiting.

Some of us are waiting for promised children or the return of a prodigal.
Some of us are waiting for healing, whether physical or spiritual.
Others are waiting for forgiveness, either to receive it or grant it.
There are women waiting for a spouse to come to church with them (while others of us wait for a spouse to show up at all).

It doesn’t seem to matter the age or the stage of life. While our circumstances are all so very different, our life journey is so often the same. That is not to say the experiences are the same, but in the actual process of learning and growing…and waiting, we are very much in this together.

In the scriptures, waiting is often right next to patience:
“I waited patiently for the Lord…” (Psalms 40:1)
“the patient waiting…” (2 Thes. 3:5)
“waiting patiently” (D&C 98:2)

The need for these two words to act together is likely very obvious. It doesn’t matter if you’re waiting for a delayed flight or a delayed blessing; the quality of patience helps you find meaning and fulfillment in the midst of the waiting. Ironically however, it is the waiting that often most tests our patience, particularly when we are waiting for something that is important to our hearts or eternally significant to our progress.

I have come to know for myself that God has had, does have and will always have a plan for me. He is a God of promises...my God of promises.

And while some of that plan and many of those promises have not come in the ways I would have expected or initially hoped for, I have learned to trust the path and the timing of God’s promised plan for me. And in the waiting on that plan, some of life’s sweetest lessons have become mine.

And for the next little while, I think I want to share a few.

(But I need some sleep first...so you'll have to wait a bit...couldn't resist.)