The Year of Waiting

I wrote this on my Instagram page in November 2019 and little did I know what 2020 would bring. This blog post might be even more relevant now than when I wrote it. It’s been so good to reflect on how the Lord was preparing my heart and mind even then.

For the past 3 months, I have walked past this line of trees, admiring their beauty and then ultimate barrenness, realizing how drastic things can change in just a short time. However indecisive the seasons may be in Chicago right now, this time of changing weather and seasons has really brought this Bible passage to mind. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬) Waiting on God and wondering about His timing and purposes are sometimes the hardest things we can do in life. His timing is perfect, but as humans, we can’t always comprehend why He allows certain things to happen. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8, 17) Even though the Lord gives us trials, we will not be struck down or forgotten about. In the end, God will be the only one to be there to pick us up and draw us closer to Him. All we’re going through is teaching us something about Himself, which is what really matters. 

The Bible commands us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans‬ ‭12:15‬) Being the extreme people pleaser that I am, I thrive off of serving those around me and doing a million things at once. But in this season, God has truly taught me what this verse looks like and how to better focus others on God’s truths and represent God’s love in my eagerness to serve others, rather than just to make others happy or having the satisfaction of giving someone momentary joy. 

As I reflect on what I wrote last year and think about this holiday season and how different it has looked than the past 20 years of holidays, I still marvel at how good the Lord has been to us, despite the amount of complaining and arguing that has happened this year. While these past few months is not what I would have wanted or expected, we have been so blessed beyond what we deserve and must wait on God’s timing.

God is so good to us, and deserves way more praise than we could ever muster.

With Love,
Hannah