While I'm Waiting...

So, today marks our one year anniversary on the waiting list for our sweet adopted African child.  Of course there is a part of me that would love to say that we were closer to adding to our family, but we are probably less than halfway through our wait.  It is difficult to know how many children around our world desperately need care and a family and it is hard to see how long it takes to do everything necessary to overcome possible corruption and do the best to protect these children in the long run.  HOWEVER, Biblically there are so many reasons to wait, grow patience and learn during this time.  

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:2-8

I am doing a wonderful Bible Study right now about Esther.  It's easy to overlook how long she waited to become queen.  It's pretty awesome what God did while she was waiting to have the second banquet.  I am also doing a Bible study with M in our homeschool about Joseph.  Again, when you know the ending, it's easy to overlook how long he waited in jail for the cupbearer to remember to tell Pharoah about him, or how long he waited to get to see his family again.  

The Bible is full of stories where character was built and the glory in lives were written BECAUSE of the waiting.  If everything came easily, we would not appreciate it nearly as much.  So, we wait.  We wait for God to lead us to the child or children that He has planned for us and we have faith that it will happen in His perfect timing.  

Most importantly, we enjoy the meantime.  We appreciate everything that we have now and live in thankfulness.  We pray for our future children, the children who are in bad situations now and for the parents and loved ones of them who are trapped by poverty, illness, lack of resources, and all of the other trials that they are facing, and we pray that God shows us ways that we can help.  We pray for the children that God has already blessed us with and we pray that He will work in their lives.  

When I thought about writing this, I thought of the song "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller.  It's so beautiful and just gives a peace about times of waiting.  

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  James 5:7-8