Have You Ever Waited?

Have you ever waited?

The truth is, waiting doesn't always feel good.

Think about this: buying McDonald's is quick because there's very little waiting. But what about afterwards? It certainly isn't the most nutritious choice, and it offers little lasting benefit for your body.

Now think about your mother's traditional meal. Most traditional meals take time. I know my mother spends hours preparing a traditional Middle Eastern meal. She buys the ingredients the day before, wakes up early the next morning, carefully prepares everything, and then begins cooking. A real, nutritious, nourishing meal takes time, effort, and patience. And afterwards? It benefits your body, your health, and your well-being.

I use this analogy because God gave it to me personally.

Whether we are waiting for a husband or wife, waiting for our book to be published, waiting to graduate from university, waiting to heal from a broken heart, waiting to move to another country, waiting for the right friendships, waiting for our health to improve, or waiting for anything worthwhile in this life—waiting requires patience and time.

We've all heard the saying, "Anything worth having is worth waiting for." And it's true.

But nobody really talks about the pain of waiting.

The frustration. The disappointment. The loneliness. The tears. The questions. The uncertainty. The growth. Everything that takes place in the waiting.

Sometimes we don't understand why we had to wait until we finally receive the very thing—or the person—we had been praying for all along.

Waiting doesn't mean we sit still and do nothing. It means we continue living with purpose. We continue embracing the beautiful life God has given us. We keep growing, serving, learning, and loving. Yet, in the quiet places of our hearts, we still carry that longing. We still feel the ache. And sometimes, it simply doesn't feel good.

So today, I want to remind you:

If you are waiting, you are not alone.

Even if you don't understand...
Even if you feel weary...
Even if you're frustrated...

Hold on.

There is a reason, a season, and a time for everything under heaven.

God is faithful. He does not delay without purpose, nor does He disappoint. He is always on time—not according to our timeline, but according to His perfect timing.

Whatever it is—or whoever it is—you are waiting for, trust that God sees the full picture when you can only see one page.

We serve a God who goes above and beyond. Even the deepest desires and genuine needs of our hearts are not beyond His care. Often, what He has prepared surpasses anything we could have imagined, because that is His loving nature.

If you need to cry, then cry.

If you're frustrated, that's okay.

If you're angry because you don't understand why some things seem to take so long, that's okay too.

Bring your real, honest heart before your Heavenly Father. He is not intimidated by your questions or your emotions. He welcomes your honesty, and in His Presence He will give you the peace, wisdom, and clarity you need for each step.

So, keep hoping in God.

Keep trusting Him.

Because even when you don't understand why He does certain things the way He does, just know 

He has never failed you, and He never will.