Waiting is the one unnecessary evil we can do without says the foolish. Jacqueline P. Johnson

I have to give credit to two people in my life who have gotten through to me and taught me the valuable lesson of waiting, of resisting the urge to be impulsive.

Let’s talk about impulsive for a minute. I love the meaning given in the Wikipedia which says: Impulsivity (or impulsiveness) involves a tendency to act on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of the consequences. Impulsive actions typically are “poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unduly risky, or inappropriate to the situation that often result in undesirable consequences, which imperil long term goals and strategies for success.

Now I think the opposite of Waiting can be likened to being Impulsive. Notice it says when we behave impulsively it prohibits long term goals and strategies for success.

I have learned from these two ladies that instead of acting impulsively and going after the first thing one should pray, wait and then expect the best.

Waiting can be painful, it requires a lot of self discipline, and it requires a lot of trust and faith. We wait because we have great expectations in a positive outcome. We have no guarantee of that positive outcome and so there is a need to be impulsive and take matters into our own hands.

Waiting in Pain can be a smoother process if we decide to trust God above everything. God is not one to lie and if he tells us to rest in him, then we should.

Psalm 62:5-8 (NIV) Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

So resting and waiting in God requires us to trust in him and know that we should seek him in all that we do. We should not let our “Waiting in Pain” cause us to act impulsively which can only lead to disaster. This is what the enemy wants us to do and then he will brag that he has conquered us. Waiting in Pain can seem like a big delay and we may look at it as denial but Waiting in Pain is opening up ourselves to the best thing that could happen to us and happen at the right time.

So as my friend Nadia would advise me – to make this be one of my mantra “Lord I believe” that translates into Lord I will wait on thee. If we do not believe in God and wait on his manifestations, his plans and promises towards us then what are we opening ourselves to?

Affirm: I resist the urge to be impulsive but will understand that Waiting in Pain is a necessity to my achieving the success that I want in my life and in my relationship with others. It will open me up to the best possible outcome that could take place because that outcome will be of God. It is well and I am well.