The Waiting Game

The “waiting game” is never easy. I am not the most patient person in the world. Although I’m better, I have a long ways to go. You see, my family and I just made our fourth move across the United States within the past decade. Although the moves themselves are never easy, God is always good. This time has been no different.

Although we had been applying to jobs for months (and months) and talking about and planning this move, it did not happen on our time. No, we make plans, but God guides and directs (Proverbs 16:9). We thank Him for that! God has been closing doors for me throughout the months of planning. He still is, and I’m grateful for that. We reached a point in our planning in which we had to take action even though we personally were not ready. We did not have things lined up as I personally like them to be. We had managed to keep things relatively quiet during the months of planning. About two weeks before we moved, we began telling others. Unlike times before, people were really supportive and kind. They have prayed for us and continue to do so. Honestly, we met very little outward resistance, which honestly means a lot.

Here’s why the support meant so much. First, it always means a lot, but this time, things were different. We moved before we had jobs lined up. We moved before we had a place to move to. I’ve shared with people that this move was literally like throwing darts at the lower 48. I “threw darts” at Austin. I threw darts at St. Charles, Missouri. I threw darts at North Georgia, Virginia, and even North Carolina. None of those stuck, however. We reached the point of our planning in which my wife and I both had interviews coming up. This was the second interview for my wife and the first for me. For her, the company wanted her present this time since the previous interview was on the phone. In addition, school starts much sooner in the South than it does in the Inland Northwest. We had to go.

We have always been fortunate when it comes to having help loading/packing. Family and friends have always been good to us. We had great friends move our belongings out to Montana this past move. We were blessed this time, too. We had help loading up the moving truck. We were once again blessed with church friends who became family. We were done loading in record time (for us anyway). We left on a Thursday, August 17. Our interviews were set for the 23^rd. We arrived Sunday, the 20^th, at my mother’s.

So we rested. Then we made the 5.5 hour drive to our interview location. Things went seemingly well on both counts although personally it is always hard to tell. We left the city without any concrete offers.

We moved across the country on faith twice. I always say the first move was about my faith, the second was about my wife’s, and this one seems to be about both of us. We moved on faith. We interviewed on faith. Yet, as we drove home without offers, doubt crept in. We were caught in the waiting game.

All it takes is one crack in your faith foundation for doubt to work (1 Peter 5:8). It enters in and spreads like a Montana wildfire in summer. On the drive home, that’s what happened. I don’t know about your reasons, but for me, I sometimes believe I don’t deserve God’s good favor. So my wife and I struggled for the next several days, waiting.

Waiting can be expensive. For us, it costs us literally $100 per day to rent and re-rent the moving truck each night. We had nowhere to go. We were caught in a conundrum. We could not secure a place to live without having a job. We could not unload the truck without having a place to put our things. So, we waited for $100 per day until we finally got word.

Praise God my wife got the job!

Things moved pretty quickly over the next several days and even weeks. We had planned to hire help to unload our truck because, after all, we were pretty exhausted mentally and physically. At the cost of $90 per day, we said emphatically, “No, thanks!” We unloaded as hurriedly as we could, returned the moving trucks (finally!), and began the slow process of finding places for things when truthfully we don’t have space for the things we own. Although we’re still working on that, we can locate most things we want or need. God is good!

My wife began work after the holiday. As for me, well, I’m still caught in the waiting game. My family and friends continue to pray for me, and I feel it; I really do. Even though things weren’t lined up as I like or prefer, I honestly have felt more peace about this move than any other time. I still do. We are shown God’s peace and plans almost every interaction we’ve had since we moved. At our bank. At the DMV. At grocery stores. At the schools. Oh, and at church, too.

The first day we attended, we saw a truck with a Montana tag. Even more exciting, we met people from a location that could not be coincidental. No, it was providential. We learned a couple had moved from an area near where we lived. I told my wife if they were from a particular place, I’d freak out. And, they were!

God has been good to us. Even if I haven’t landed my dream job, I have been able to take care of some little things in the meanwhile. I’m still searching. I have applications under review. God thankfully is still closing doors. For all of which I am grateful. Thankfully, family and friends continue to pray for me and my family. I have told people I am ready to work. I have recently changed my thinking. I am ready to work when God is ready for me to work. Yes, I’m going to apply and search for work, but my steps are ordered (Psalm 37:23-24). So if you are like me and find yourself caught in the waiting game, I highly recommend remaining faithful. Read Godly works. Read the Bible. Read devotionals. Watch sermons such as Stephen Furtick’s “Making Moves.” One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 16:9. Make your plans, but trust the Lord to direct them.

What about you? What do you do when you’re caught in the waiting game?

#leadership #trust #obey #waiting #plans #patience #stuck #moving #steps #faith #faithfulness