Pregnant Pause

...Waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting.

Romans 8:24

Pregnancy. I remember those days! Heartburn, trouble sleeping. But also excitement and hopeful expectancy.

So much goes on during those 9 months! With the help of ultrasound, we can glimpse into the great mystery of pregnancy. One tiny cell divides and differentiates until it becomes a living, breathing baby made up of billions of cells. That is no small task God is accomplishing!

I’ve had many periods of waiting in my journey, some short and some long. Looking back I can see that God was orchestrating many things in my life and others during those times. Romans 8:24 tells us we are enlarged in the waiting. A pregnant woman does not diminish in size but increases as time marches forward. We may be unaware of what God is doing behind the scenes, but Jesus assures us work is being done. My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working (John 5:17).

When I moved away from the familiarity of home, friends and church I loved, I encountered a season of waiting. Waiting to find a church; waiting to find friends; waiting to find my purpose in a new town. Feelings of loneliness, stagnation and gloominess often accompanied me. I also enjoyed a closeness with God that I may not have known had I been consumed with busyness. We walked and talked in ways we hadn’t before.

While waiting for God’s timing we can hold fast to God’s promises that new things will come. When morning sickness or swollen feet hit during pregnancy, I endured by looking forward to the birth of the baby. When her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world (John 16:22).

God eventually brought new friends, church and purpose in my life. If you are in a season of waiting, take comfort that God is working on your behalf.

Terri