Waiting for the Yes

Raise your hand if you like waiting.  If you do, I will turn this blog post over to you for your tips and tricks.

Waiting in the drive-thru for your afternoon coffee can feel hard sometimes (or is that just me?)  Waiting for medical test results, an answered prayer, or a new job is even more challenging.

Waiting on a God-sized dream is a special kind of hard.  You sense a calling from God.  A desire to be used by God.  Longing to walk in faith and place your yes before God.  But what do you do in the waiting for the yes to that manuscript, that speaking engagement, that particular leadership position you feel called to take?

Can I remind us together here, in this space today, that in our waiting, God is always working?

Think about the 400 years of silence between Malachi and Matthew. God was working in that waiting and preparing for the moment when the son of God would burst forth onto the scene.

I waited for eleven years for a God-sized dream that He would not allow me to let go of—signing a YES for a traditionally published book.  Those eleven years came with many rejection letters, many responses like, “not yet,” and lots of wanting to give up in the waiting.  

I learned some tips and tricks in that waiting, and I would love to encourage you if you are in a waiting season now.

• Worship while you wait.  I learned that one of the best parts of our God-sized dreams is getting to know the God who has given us our dreams.  Worshipping as you wait reminds you of His presence in the wait.

• Work while you wait.  In those eleven years, I just kept prayerfully asking God, “What do you have for me to do now?”  This prayer of placing that yes on the table led to writing six self-published books “in the wait.”  As we prayerfully seek God, He is faithful to show us what He has for the “now” as we wait for the “next.”

• Build a community as you wait.  I love the community I have found in other God-sized dreamers. Online and in real life, find people to wait with.  Walk with.  Worship with.

I highly recommend you sign up for the Speak Up Virtual Conference this year.  You will find the most loving family to come alongside you as you wait.

I waited eleven years before I could announce my first traditionally published book through Moody Publishing.  

In the waiting, God was working behind the scenes.

He is working as you wait, too.

What are you waiting on right now? I’d love to hear from you in the comment section.

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A note from Carol Kent:  Jenn Hand attended her first Speak Up Conference on a scholarship and God continues to honor her faithfulness in ministry, her mentorship and encouragement to others, and her far-reaching global ministry.  We hope you’ll attend this year.  All of the information you need is here.

If you’d like to “Pay It Forward” and give a tax-deductible donation to the scholarship fund, here’s the link.

If you’re in need of partial scholarship assistance, email Bonnie@speakupconference.com for an application.