Still I Wait

Lately, I have been doing a lot of contemplating and praying more than usual. The Lord has been faithful to provide for me for the last 7 months (yes, 7 months unemplolyed!). This morning I was thinking that perhaps I should have accepted a job over a year ago with ABC that I was offered the same time as the producer position at A&E. At the time, I accepted the producer position because it was exactly what I wanted to do and I really felt that's where God had lead me, even though I knew it was a contract that might not be renewed. The other job was a permanent employee position. I have no idea what might have happened with the other job (maybe they had layoffs as well), but it doesn't matter. While I was thinking about that, I realized that I'm sort of glad that I lost my job at A&E because I've had some opportunities that would not have come my way had I been working. I've joined a Bible study/ networking/ support group for people who have lost their jobs. Through this group, I've been able to get plugged in with a Biblically sound church and I've met some people that genuinely care about me and my walk with the Lord. Had I been working, I'd have no need for this Bible study. Also, I've had some opportunities to work on my demo and research a documentary that I want to work on. I feel a peace that I'm able to find positive aspects to being unemployed but that's not the end of the story. I WANT to work, I WANT to feel useful, I WANT to have an income and be able to, I don't know, buy a desk! God knows my heart and my desires and I believe that He will meet those...in time. So, that's where the waiting comes in and that's very difficult because waiting means a lot of downtime...time to think. Thinking leads to worry and doubt; both of which are not from God. There are days that I feel like I need to be doing more to find a job. But when I'm in the middle of 8 hours of surfing the web for jobs, mailing out my resume, following leads, and networking, I realize that I'm doing all that I can. I'm not sitting idly by waiting for something to fall in my lap. I am being proactive but still I wait for something to happen.

Here are some verses and quotes about waiting that I can refer to when the difficult part of waiting sneaks up on me. Maybe you'll find them encouraging as well.

Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope"

Isaiah 30:18 "Therefore, the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him."

Psalm 38:15 "But for You, O Lord, do I wait; it is You, O Lord my God, who will answer"

"When we have done our best, we should wait the result in peace" -Sir John Lubbock

"Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits" -Thomas A. Edison

"There is no great achievement that is not the result of patient working and waiting." -J G Holland

Genesis 8 talks about Noah waiting for the earth to dry up enough for him and his family to leave the ark. As I read this chapter, I can understand how Noah felt during that time of waiting. I'm sure he knew beyond any doubt that God was not going to keep him in that ark forever. He knew that there was something more in store for him and eventually God would allow Noah to open the doors of the ark and walk out. But I'm sure during those days of waiting he was bored and felt rather useless, thinking "How long must I wait?" Noah sending out the dove that returned with the "bad news" that the earth was not ready yet is like when I send out my resume and I get a rejection letter. It's just not the right time yet. I'm praying for a sign of hope and progress, my dove returning with an olive branch.

Thanks for the continued prayers and encouragement. I know God will not keep me locked on this ark forever.