Have you ever had to wait for something you really wanted? I think most of us would answer "yes!" There are times in our lives when we find ourselves in a holding pattern. Everything is in place, the timing is perfect and yet God seems to say "not yet". One such time for me was when my husband and I wanted to start a family. We were ready, but God asked us to wait. This season was not an easy one for us. Little did I know, years later, a simple sunrise would finally help me see a larger picture on waiting.

My husband and I live in Portland, Oregon. It is a rare morning when you can open the shades and see sunlight. Most mornings the view is a very dull shade of grey. One particular fall day, however, the clouds had parted and I was determined to see the sunrise for myself.

I hurried outside and sprinted around the corner to my favourite viewing spot. When I arrived, I was surprised to see the sun actually was a long way from breaking the horizon. I settled in and began to wait.

It had to be soon

The evidence of the sun coming was all around me. Mt. Hood, a prominent volcano near Portland, was lit up as if it were erupting. I could see the sunlight beginning to sparkle off the windows of homes on the bank of the Columbia River. The wisps of clouds looked like bursts of lavender and fuchsia fire dancing in the sky.

I kept looking toward the horizon - it had to be soon. The sky above the ground was becoming brighter and brighter, yet the sun didn't come. I began to grow impatient. I just wanted to see that rim of light peek its head out!

"When they show a sunrise in the movies it happens faster than this!" I thought to myself. "What could be taking so long?" Everything was ready. The sky and the mountain were practically chanting, "Sun, Sun, Sun!" I had seen other sunrises before; surely they didn’t take this long or move in such slow motion.

Then it happened.

As if my disappointment weren’t enough, I had to endure the questions and comments of my well-meaning friends and family. They kept asking me, "How’s it going?" Time and again I’d hear, "You’re not pregnant yet! Maybe you should go to the doctor; there could be something wrong with you!" (Delete this sentence for better flow to the next - I know they meant well, but waiting is hard enough.)

What was wrong with me was not in my body, it was the aching in my heart every time I saw a mom holding a crying baby. I’d see her, tired and frustrated, and all I could feel was jealousy. And still I waited. Surely it had to be "soon". (I hate that word!) I learned quickly that soon in our timing, doesn't always match soon in God's timing.

Waiting for God’s timing

Sometimes, all the right signs can be around us, yet nothing happens -- the promotion doesn’t materialize, he doesn’t propose, the test comes back negative, again. In the physical realm, the stage is set! From our perspective the timing is perfect so why doesn’t God act?

It can be tempting to say to God "now would be a great time, see everything is ready!" But we can only see with our limited perspective. We see only a moment where God is looking at a lifetime. Part of the task of waiting is trusting, choosing to believe that God does have a schedule and that His timing is perfect.

We’re told to look and wait for the Lord more than the watchman wait for the morning. We are more than just our bodies; we are body, soul and spirit. There are horizons even within our own heart where God is behind the scenes working to bring about a sunrise. He acts in His timing, with mercy and loving-kindness. If we get impatient and continue focus only on one spot, the one thing we want, we can miss the glory and splendour of everything God is doing.

As I thought about all of this, I began to look at the sunrise differently. I stopped focussing on the wait and took in the beauty of the morning. This was the reason God had brought me out of the house. This is what He wanted me to see. His purpose was not just to show me the split second when the sun peaked out over the horizon. He wanted me to experience the morning as a whole.

I needed to see and experience it all from the birds’ new song, to the fresh breath of fall air. I needed a new view of waiting and the reminder that I don’t have to wait alone, I can wait in the presence of my King. God is always at work and we can see the fullness of His hand moving if we take the time to wait on Him.

The sun did break through that morning, and yes it was spectacular. More important however, was the awakening in my heart as I felt the warmth of His love even as I waited.

If you are waiting for the Son to break through in the horizons of your life, be encouraged that God is at work. Wait for Him, "more than the watchmen wait for the morning." Don’t let yourself get distracted. Take time on a clear morning to find a special place and sit to watch the sunrise (or the "Son"rise).

Ask God to show you the full measure of your surroundings and to give you the strength to wait gracefully. Resist the urge to rush. Remember Isaiah 40:31 "they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength".

Ask for His strength and make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to wait.

Are you waiting for something today? Ask God to fill you with His spirit even as you are waiting. You can pray a prayer something like this:

Father in Heaven,

The power of Your Holy Spirit in my life is the oxygen of my soul. Sometimes I want to make things happen on my schedule. I don't always wait to hear the voice of Your Holy Spirit. Help me not to put my timing ahead of Your timing. Today I want to make a fresh decision to allow Your Holy Spirit to be the Director of my life. Help me to spend time in Your presence. Help me to see not just the horizons in my life, but to take in the full beauty of everything you are doing around me. Fill me with the strength and power of Your Spirit to wait and draw closer to You.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, please let me pray for you. Use the contact form to let me know.