Listening for, and discerning God’s will during vocational and life transitions requires reclaiming the art of waiting – in many ways a lost discipline.
I’ve been in a period of waiting for over a year now, in transition with my work. After producing two documentary films back to back, and five years of international outreach, I needed a break, and to dream again about what God has next for me.
In winding down our outreach activities, I carved out time throughout the weeks to savor the slow pace of cafe life, sipping tea and chatting with carefree, flip-flop clad surfers and serial entrepreneur locals. I cherished long beach walks while mulling over my transitional hopes – developing new project ideas and landing soulful, challenging, well-paid opportunities.
Yet, after six months of this part-time sabbatical, my hopes never flourished. I couldn’t seem to get projects off the ground, partnerships didn’t seem right, and opportunities didn’t abound. Forced to wait for a spring-like season to arrive in it’s right time, the long shadow of winter followed me through my days.
At times, waiting requires facing a vast, empty desert ahead. Thirst parching dry tongues, waiting is often laborious, lonely, and unforgiving. Glimmers of hope, like streams of water, mere mirages, come to tease us, then leave us wanting high and dry on hot sand, as we crawl toward unknown vistas ahead.
Yet, I’ve been reminded, in deserts cacti bloom. Hot pinks and bright yellows dot arid landscapes, as black night skies dance with tiny sparkles of light.
St. John of the Cross wrote, “God is not found in spiritual delights, but in the sensory aridities and detachments referred by the dry and desert land”. He says, “God leads us into a land without a way”. But he reminds us it’s in this desert we find the riches of God’s grace, where we learn to rely on God’s will and promises.
Jesus, tempted by the devil, waited in hunger and thirst for forty days, feeding on the will of God, before venturing onward toward his destiny, a ministry that would change the world.
In the deserts days and the winter season of my waiting, I learned the lessons I most needed: seasons and deserts are God’s gift, created for a purpose. These dry times are God’s offerings to draw close, to abide in the comfort of divine love, to listen for our true callings.
In a contemporary play by Archibald MacLeish, JB, about the story of Job, Job’s wife Sarah speaks encouraging words on the hope of God’s will: “Blow on the coal of the heart. The candles in churches are out. The lights have gone out in the sky. Blow on the coal of the heart, and we’ll see by and by”.
We blow on tiny flames in our souls during these waiting days, lighting aflame the fire of God’s love and promises. It is only here we gain the true strength to carry on.
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
The literal translation for word wait is the Hebrew word “קוה” (qavah) meaning to bind together like a cord. It’s in our waiting we weave sturdy ropes of faith, waiting with eagerness for bubbling springs to burst forth in the desert, for God’s call to ring true.
It is in our desert thirst, we drink of living water. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman preparing to bring up water from the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life”.
He says, “he who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
It’s in being filled with divine grace, we hear the rivers of our soul’s longing, the voice of God’s call, and where we wait for God’s spring to bloom. In her book, Hearing with the Heart, author Debra Farrington says, “we persevere and continue to follow the call we’ve heard with our heart, the light grows and somewhere along the way, we find ourselves exactly where we are suppose to be, doing just what God has called us to do”.
The waiting season is a time for filling our souls with the food of God, the breath of true life. It’s a time to mature, grow in faith, preparing for what God has for us ahead. A baby forms in her mother’s womb for nine months. An olive tree takes thirty years to reach maturity. An acorn becomes a towering oak tree spreading wide it’s branches toward the heavens.
What vocation, what transition can possibly be worthy without incubation, without abiding in our maker?
Jesus says, abide in me and you’ll bear much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. In such seasons of abiding, every branch in us that does not bear fruit will be pruned, so that it may bear more fruit.
As with branches on a vine, buds form, blossoms bloom, when spring comes.
Wait with confidence.
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As long as we’re in the land of milk and honey we don’t feel that desperate need for God. But in the desert? Without him we’ll die of thirst.
So well said Constance, so much appreciate you visiting!
Wow! I needed to come by here tonight, for sure! I am also in a waiting season, where I feel like my cogs were turning in a direction where I had enthusiasm, passion, and energy, but some family stuff derailed my plans. God’s plans are better, but I really thought I was following them. I can so relate to that quote about just suddenly finding yourself doing what He purposes for us to do. It sneaks in quietly, like a convergence of our hopes and dreams and His will. So much to process in this post. Thank you for your transparency….it was extremely helpful to hear how valuable you feel the incubation period is. Such a great way to put it! Loved this –> “Forced to wait for a spring-like season to arrive in it’s right time, the long shadow of winter followed me through my days.”
Hi Bonnie, thank you for sharing and your for your comment! I’m so grateful the post spoke to you. In risking vulnerability, I have always found someone who shares something similar — a way to strengthen one another! Family issues certainly can derail plans can’t they! Somehow God uses these times for deeper reflection, healing, and bringing forth wisdom and new paths. It’s always such an uncomfortable place to not be in control, when things suddenly shift, or plans don’t work out. I haven’t gone through anything like this in years, but lessons abound! Love sharing with you.
oh yes – waiting on the Lord… 😀
Thanks Andi!
I recently studied abiding in Christ with my Bible study. It isn’t easy and periods of waiting are also so hard! Thank you for sharing this wisdom with us for those times when we need to just be patient and wait.
Hi Gina, I really hear you! In a world based on achievement and instant gratification it’s really hard to ‘just be’ — Jesus talks of the way of God as the ‘narrow’ way, and few can follow walk it. Waiting and patience are part of this way–it takes time to learn a new way of being in the world that is going faster and striving. You are right, it isn’t easy! But in the end the growth and incubation period is worth the wait! So glad to have you visiting! Hope you’ll join us!
Be encouraged my dear friend! Waiting is not “passive”…..you are building your “trust fund”! Ha
Hi Rebecca, love your encouragement as always! I’m feeling blessed in this waiting, knowing God has plans that will far outshine anything I could ever dream up! But encouragement is always welcomed to build my faith during times of doubt!!
I hope to see you again soon, maybe when study starts again we can meet for coffee..would love to hear how you’re doing!
My dearest Kathy: thank you for your beautiful insights and that most powerful closing quote: “Wait with confidence.” Like you, I have taken a sabbatical from professional life. The plan was to return to work after one year. However, I felt far from ready to return to the demands and risks of practicing medicine on February 12th ….first year anniversary of sabbatical. Like Bonnie Lyn, there have been many family and friends in need during that time that changed the way I sent my sabbatical time…..i was too busy! Luckily, I am in a position to extend my time. Kathy….you have set a beautiful example of the importance of taking ritualistic time for prayer, walks on the beach, exercise, reading spiritual works,enjoying cafe life. Now that my youngest son has graduated from high school….And home remodel is closer to completion…..I find it easier to stay with my rituals that allow me to go to the wellspring deep inside . In so doing, I recognize my soul’s magnificence and am less likely to veer away from my true path. I know I am on the true and right path when I am able to “wait in confidence”. Love you sister of the sacred heart.
Dearest Theresa, as always, I love your words and sharing! It’s been a joy to have witnessed you during your sabbatical (I cannot believe it’s a year already!)–first of all, it takes courage to make such a step to leave a secure job to give yourself time to go deeper into yourself. Even the way you’ve faced unexpected challenges during this time, stepping up when you were needed–is admirable. Life happens when we take sabbaticals, too..and in this way you served where needed! Even your struggles with the unexpected — bathroom renovations and all– are graceful — crying out, ranting, complaining, feeling miserable is an honest cry for God’s grace to help you return to that peace within, to return to the ways of being that restore you, allowing time to stop the world, and ‘wait in confidence”! I’m coming to realize it’s all a journey, and waiting give us the opportunity to prune the branches that no longer work for us, to weed out the parts of us that no longer work, to ‘be still’ and ‘hear’ God’s divine plan unfolding. I’m blessed to be on this journey with you!!
We are ‘neighbors’ this week at J Dukes Lee’s Tell His Story–hello!
I enjoyed this post and the quotes you shared….Abiding is a theme of my life lately (that, and the word ‘dwell’ seem to be continued whispers from my Jesus.)
May He continue to guide you to the next right step, whatever that may be.
Thanks for visiting Jody. So glad to hear the themes of your life are dwelling and abiding, the best place to be! Thanks for your encouragement!
I don’t know many people who do this “waiting” very well. Sigh. I wonder if it’s our culture? But it is possible to do it well. Thanks for the encouragement that God DOES always eventually send rain to the desert. “Wait with confidence.” Love that.
Hi Lisa, my own experience is that it’s an everyday, every moment practice to return to God. The world pulls us in so many ways, waiting surely isn’t popular is it! Taking the narrow way is not easy, but as we know it’s the road to true life and joy. I remind myself everyday, ‘wait with confidence’!
Kathy dearest: so as part of that pruning process….may we exchange a lunch date at restaurant of your choice for your help to purge away my clutter. I am reminded of my attachment issues as my remodel forces me to face my lack of storage space for many things I probably truly do not need but cannot seem to let go. I have done 3 purges over past 3 months and continue to be overwhelmed by my stuff. Need you sister. Xoxo
I’m there even without a lunch date! Let’s figure a good time I can come by and help! Will email you with my schedule in coming week..
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Love this!
Your candle analogy reminded me of Isaiah 42:3:
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
My pastor gave me that while I was waiting for my husband to be saved but it’s been an inspiration for so many waiting seasons!
I love your writing, Kathy. It inspires me. The desert periods are hard to go through but I’ve always seen fruit when I’ve come to the other side.
PS We’re going to plant our olive tree in the ground. It’s been in a container for a couple of years. Thirty years, huh? Cool! 🙂
((hugs))
Thank you so much Jennie, I so much appreciate your encouragement!! And I so love visiting your blog and learning about your lovely life in France. You have a love of beauty and simplicity that I share! I’m sending you blessings for that olive tree — somehow I think it’s like one of your family members who will be with you a long time! Blessings to you Jennie!