I was on a road trip by myself recently I do that from time to time so I can clear my head it’s just me the open road and God. As I’m driving south, I saw on the other side of the highway going in the opposite direction going north there was the remaining of an accident, the police and a tow truck.

There was an extremely long line of cars with traffic backed up for miles. Now everyone at the very beginning of the long line of traffic had a clear view of the wreckage that was just about cleaned up and would probably be gone in another five minutes or so. So, everyone at the beginning of the line had a very clear view that the wreckage was being cleaned up and just about done and everyone could be on their way soon.

The people further down the road didn’t have that same clear view that the people upfront had. All they could do was just sit in their cars and wait. Now just imagine what the people were doing while they were waiting. I’m sure there were a lot of people in a rush to get to their next destination and they were angry and frustrated because one they probably didn’t even know why they were being held up. They just knew that they were stuck where they were without a reason. All they could do was speculate why they were stuck and how much longer they would be stuck.

Other people may have just taken it in stride and just figured OK I’m stuck let me make the most of this situation. Maybe they talked on the phone to a loved one, they talked to God, they may have talked to themselves, brainstormed a new business idea, maybe that time in their car by themselves was what they needed because otherwise they don’t have time to their selves at home. They might have kids and families and work that keeps them distracted and busy.

In this moment I realized two things. One, we never really know what’s holding us up in life. We never really know how close we are to being done in the season that we’re currently in. We don’t know what caused that season and we don’t know how long we’re in that season. From the point of view that I saw driving by and from the point of view of all the people at the beginning of the traffic we all saw that the mess was being cleaned up and traffic was going to start flowing along within the next few minutes but other people‘s frustration was mounting and they were probably getting even more and more irritated not knowing that they were coming out of that season they just had to hold on and be patient just a few minutes more.

The second thing that I realized is how we act and how we handle the waiting season means a lot. Are we those people in a waiting season that are frustrated because we are waiting and we don’t know what’s going on up ahead and we don’t know how much longer we’re in that season or are we the people that’s going to take advantage of that waiting season that we’re currently in and making the most of it and learning and growing from it. A while back I learned about the fruits of the spirit. One of which is patience. I already knew that I wasn’t a very patient person but as I grew, I learned to how to be patient. Or so I thought. The fruit of the spirit that is patience is not about you waiting something out, but it is actually how you act while you’re waiting. Are you remaining grateful while you’re waiting? Or are you complaining and expecting the worst?

Proverbs 3:5 says

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth.

I will be the first to admit I would get upset anytime I felt stuck. I would come up with my own plan of actions to get out of whatever it was without consulting God. Now, I wouldn’t dare do that. I seek God for all my answers and next moves. If I find myself in a season that I feel like I’ve been in for a long time I ask Him, what is it I’m supposed to learn while I’m here? What is it You want me to do in this time?

I’m far from perfect so I still have moments of doubt, frustration and get tired but that’s when I must take control of my thoughts and shift them back to God and His word.

What are you doing in your waiting season?