Discover Overflowing Joy in the Slow Ache of Waiting

Waiting is hard.

Maybe you are longing for a baby, maybe you are waiting for a promotion at work, maybe you are waiting for a breakthrough in your finances, or maybe you are still desiring a spouse.

Whatever the area, you are feeling a void. You are lacking something you desire.

The desires in your heart have not yet come to your door step, and the longer you have to wait, the more your attention and focus seems to dial in on that one thing—wondering, waiting and often whining for that desire to finally come to pass.

So, what do we do?

We pray, we try to create opportunities to make this thing manifest. We consult with our friends, asking them to pray and help us create opportunities.

Personally, as I’ve observed my own areas of lack, I’ve become aware of the greater significance these voids have in my life.

This awareness has given me greater clarity and understanding of my heart’s desire, but most of all the desire of God’s heart as well.

Of course there are still times when I scream, “God when will you provide _____________.” But overall I am allowing these areas of lack to draw more passion and purpose for the very thing I am longing for.

Sometimes I wonder if there are desires which God withholds in order to increase the significance this area has on my heart because it’s in the lack where my heart groans, my mind longs for and my soul aches as I am being stretched. 

Then when God does bless me with my heart’s desires, I am able to accept this gift with greater poise, gratitude and understanding of the magnitude of the amazing gift He’s blessed me with.

We see this in the life of David and Joseph. Both received a promise that they would someday rule. Little did they know someday would be years away.

It was on their journey to power that they were molded, shaped and brought to a greater awareness of the significance in their destiny as rulers.

You’ve heard the saying, “It’s not about the destination but the journey.” Sometimes I wonder when this truth will actually sink in for me because I know every goal, dream and desire in my heart should never trump the greater joy of being on the journey with Him as my guide.

Therefore, I am trying to shift, shift, shift my focus to a place where my desires and longings—the voids in my life—are increasing my passion and giving me hope, faith and trust that in the process, I am making progress.

Here my heart is being changed, my character is being formed and I am seeing with greater clarity the significance these areas of lack have on my life.

I know there are areas where you too are screaming out, “God when will you provide _____________.” But today don’t forget you are in a process and during the process you are in fact making progress as you allow your heart to move to a place of greater passion, purpose and promise.

To put it very simply: Let your lack draw you to love and stay the course!

Remember it’s the tortoise that wins the race and there’s joy to experience each and every day … in the waiting!

Mikaela Kate is passionate to see you reach your full God-given potential! Her heart is to inspire the next generation to discover who they are and what they are made to do. There is a unique voice locked within you, and Mikaela Kate is authorized to release it! A speaker, writer and coach, Mikaela Kate has invested seven years developing college-age men and women into leaders. Conducting Bible studies, women’s groups and young adult teams, she encourages others to go further and higher—taking their gifts, passions, and skills to the next level! A graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in marketing, she discovered her love for strategic thinking, big picture ideas and meeting people where they are. These skills and passions later equipped her to plant a church with five other staff members (Veritas Church, Iowa City, Iowa). From there she moved to Sheffield, England and worked as the Young Adults Leader at St. Thomas Philadelphia. While in England her passion for America grew and her desire to see her native land transformed for Jesus ignited. She sees people living out their God-given purpose as a key to the transformation of this nation. Mikaela currently lives in South Carolina and is an active member of The Father’s House Church. You can reach her by email at [email protected] or on her website at www.mikaelakate.com.