Waiting joyfully is a constant challenge because waiting is a part of life. I was definitely not waiting joyfully a couple of nights ago. I had fallen asleep with a scowl on my face and a churning in the pit of my stomach. "The appointed time must arrive, whether you're watching the clock or not. You are waiting, even if you don't participate in it or fret over it." This is the wisdom the Lord shared with me early the next morning. I have given birth to two children, written and published two children's books, and waited in line at the DMV; I can promise you, I am no stranger to waiting.

Even so, this current waiting season came with heavy fog, dark clouds, and rain. The heavy fog was in my mind, the dark clouds in my soul, and the rain from my eyes. I am happy to say, though, that once we decide to follow Jesus, every season, no matter how dreary, also comes with wind from the Spirit.

Often, however, the personal words the Holy Spirit speaks to us don't translate well to others. That's because they are personal. I told my husband what the Holy Spirit said to me about waiting, and I could tell the words did not have the same effect on him as they did on me. As I verbally fleshed out this idea of waiting without waiting, these words came out of my mouth, "A watched pot never boils."

Grandma Knows Waiting

Anyone who has a grandmother has heard these words before, and with all due respect to grandmothers everywhere, that's simply not true. But it feels true. I've watched a pot full of water waiting for it to boil. I've waited, and waited, and waited, and it wasn't until I walked away that it boiled! As a matter of fact, it seemed as if the moment I walked away, I heard the sound of bubbling water, indicating a boil. However, the water didn't boil because I walked away (that may be superstition or an old wives' tale, but it isn't science) the water boiled because the temperature of the water reached the boiling point.

The boiling temperature of water 212° F. This is the standard degree that most scientists agree upon. However, the time it takes for water to reach this temperature, to boil, depends upon a variety of factors. I Googled this and found an interesting article from the University of Maryland. Here's what they had to say: "The boiling point is the temperature at which boiling occurs for a specific liquid. For example, for water, the boiling point is 100 degrees Celsius at a pressure of 1 atm. The boiling point of a liquid depends on temperature, atmospheric pressure, and the vapor pressure of the liquid. When the atmospheric pressure is equal to the vapor pressure of the liquid, boiling will begin." Sorry, Grandma.

Waiting Isn't The Issue

You see, the water doesn't need privacy; it needs time. Waiting isn't the issue; it's the watching. In other words, watching is what makes the waiting unbearable. The Holy Spirit was telling me that I could stand by the stove, watch the pot, tap my foot in frustration, and wait for the water to boil; or I could walk away and fill my time with something worthwhile. Either way, the water will boil at the appropriate time, when the temperature reaches the boiling point.

Waiting joyfully is a constant challenge because waiting is part of life. We wait through the night for morning; we wait a year for another birthday or holiday; we wait for the right mate; we wait for children to be born; we wait for the perfect opportunity; and the list goes on. It seems to me, that the things I want most take the longest to boil. I mean, happen. I put a great amount of effort into strategizing and am always on call to help God figure things out. He is so good and gracious to humor my suggestions and then give me wisdom and comfort while I wait. Holy Spirit is there too, gently reminding me that I have trust issues. Don'tcha just love God...