Reader, the definition of the word, “learn,” is “to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience.” Throughout our lives, we learn from others. The first people we learn from are the ones who raised us such as our parents, grandparents, or guardians. Through them we learn about life such as what it means to be part of a family, we learn manners, and other social skills. In addition to those who raised us, we learn at school. For instance, in elementary school we learn letters and numbers, learn how to read, write, and learn the beginnings of math. If you are a Christ follower, then church is a place you also learn. At church, for example, one learns from their pastor more about God’s Word. Life is full of learning. As believers, the space in which the Lord often wants us to learn is in the waiting.
Sometimes, the lessons the Lord wants us to learn in the waiting are about His character; other times, the lessons are about us. Anyone who knows me knows I am a planner who enjoys details. When my family and I are on vacation, I am the one who takes on planning the details of the trip. When my friends throw out the idea of getting together soon, I select date and time options for them to choose from to get it on our calendars ASAP. At work, I enjoy preparing lessons for my class, and enjoy making lists of what is needed for my students to do their crafts. Being a planner and detailed-oriented are parts of how the Lord created me. Even so, in my years of waiting on the desire for the man the Lord deemed worthy of my heart, I learned the desire would not be fulfilled the way I had planned, but the way the Lord planned, for He is the Ultimate Planner.
Maybe you are not a planner; even still, you did not plan to wait a long time for engagement, marriage, children, healing, financial provision, elevation in your career, a house, and the list goes on. As much as we would like the Lord to reveal to us His plan for our wait journeys all at once, He will not. With the unknown of how long the wait journey is going to be, it presents the opportunity for the Lord to open our eyes to some things in our hearts He wants to change and mature in us. Ponder these questions below at this stage of your wait journey.
- What is the Lord wanting to change within me?
- What is He wanting to mature within me?
If it is not clear right now, be patient, the Lord will reveal the answer to these questions in time. When He does, it is not enough for us to learn what He wants to change and mature because learning about it does not equate our growth. Growth happens when we are an active participant in the process to change and mature.
How can we be active participants? Paul writes in Romans, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a). A few thoughts crossed my mind on how we can learn to participate in growing during our wait journeys.
- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world.” Whether it is negative learned behavior patterns, or negative learned patterns of thinking, make the decision not to continue this negative pattern by surrendering it to the Lord daily.
- “Be transformed.” Make the choice to allow the Lord to transform the area in your life and heart that needs to change and mature.
- “The renewing of your mind.” One of the ways we renew our mind is through Scripture. Seek the Lord’s guidance on what verses to meditate on at this stage of your wait journey.
No wait journey in our lives will pan out the way we plan, for this is the way it goes when waiting on the Lord. We can be certain these wait journeys will be full of learning from the Lord what He wants to change and mature in us. As a result, while in the waiting, it is an opportunity to grow to become more like Christ. The Lord is intentional, so if He is opening our eyes to an area in us that needs transformation, it is likely, for instance, what He wants to change does not need to be part of us when the wait does come to an end.
All Bible verses are from Holy Bible: New International Version