Wait Gracefully

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horse“Wait gracefully”.

This truth bomb was dropped on my head by Sarah over at Love/Power/Strength in response to a discussion here on my blog, and my ears are still ringing from the impact.

It’s just such a deceptively great phrase! And it applies regardless of what you’re waiting for.

Because there’s so many directions you can take the idea of “graceful”, at least in my mind. And because there’s an alternative: to wait gracelessly. I’ve done my share of that.

What could “wait gracefully” mean?

 

1. Graceful appearance

The outward appearance of our lives can be staggered, jerky, tumultuous and ungainly, or it can be smooth, tranquil, flowing, and confident – pleasing to the eye.

Like a running horse. I’ve rarely seen a graceless horse.

Okay, yes, there is that, but even a rolling horse is graceful.

The ungainly life is what we get when we lack confidence in God’s goodness as we wait. We allow our emotions to get the best of us, tempting us into grasping and taking matters into our own hands, making our wait rocky and damaging. Others can tell that the wait is wearing on us.

Please don’t hear judgment in that. I did that myself for a long time.

But when joy is part of the equation, our waiting becomes calm, hopeful, pleasing to others’ eyes. It won’t be perfect. There may still be groaning; there may still be tears; there may still be bitter questions. But others will be able to tell that there’s something underlying the waiting, some source of power beyond us. Our waits will attract others, make them wonder just what (or Who) our secret is.

 

2. Graceful overflowing

Waiting isn’t passive, and it isn’t inward-focused like a bad toenail. Though there are acute, fervent dreams God gives us, he also has his own dreams for us to consider. There are those around us who need grace, and we are his hands and feet.

Do we strive to serve, to evangelize, to listen, to embrace, to disciple during our wait? Are we allowing our gifts to spill over onto others while we wait for God’s blessings to spill onto us?

 

3. Graceful receiving

I have said this before, but it seems truer with every passing season: some of God’s graces must be accepted. God is offering, honestly, a ton of grace to get us through our trials and waits, and we’re not always accepting it. We’d rather hold onto our pride. “C’mon, God – can’t you just end this?” we complain.

We also fear that God might merely extend the wait if we show we can handle it. A rather irrational thing, perhaps, but I’ve done it, and I know friends who have as well.

Let’s instead receive with open hands the joy God has for us. It enables the other two items.

We can live like an old 70s jeep on a ragged mountain trail, or we can live like a boat on a calm lake. Choosing the jeep won’t end the wait any faster.

I choose the lake, knowing Jesus can calm those waters.

26 thoughts on “Wait Gracefully”

  5. This is a really great reminder. And a very Stoic response:)

    I tend to be graceless in my wait as well… I think the ability to practice “patient endurance” is something that needs to be learned. Not something innate in the life of the Christian. When I finally figured out that I could choose my response to whatever comes my why, instead of allowing whatever comes my way (or whatever fails to come my way) to rattle my cage, I was amazed at how radically my perspective of this life changed.

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  6. Thank you Brandon, how very much this is needed; “Let’s instead receive with open hands the Joy God has for us.”

    It has a bit of detail but I hope you don’t mind my sharing Brandon what God gave me to hold onto in the Storms of Life and yes regardless of what I go through His inner Joy remains because I know He Loves us greatly and that His plans for us are very good.

    Isaiah 43:1-3….. Fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour….. (KJV)

    Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

    Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men.

    Christian Love and Blessings – Anne.

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  8. Not sure why it took me so long to see this, but as usual I am so astounded by your insight and am blessed by your words. I’m glad those words inspired you to write this! Thanks for the shout out as well haha.

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  9. I haven’t had time to read my favorite Christian blogs I follow, and finally, tonight, I do. I’ve read three, and they are all a godly message to my overwhelmed spirit. Thank you, Brandon, for the encouraging reminder that God is in the details, so we don’t have to be sad or afraid… even if we are looking like a crazy horse lying in its back! God bless you, friend, in Jesus’ name!

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