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Why is God Making Me Wait?

Why Does God Make You Wait?

Without a doubt, times of waiting can seem bothersome, if not downright frustrating. But God’s timing is perfect, and we need to trust in His timing. There are several blessings that can transpire when we wait. 

1. Waiting strengthens our relationship with God
2. Waiting can redirect us and provide better opportunities
3. Waiting makes room for spiritual transformation
4. Waiting ignites our faith
5. Waiting provides an opportunity for you to really look inside yourself and your motives
6. Waiting allows the space for you to be grateful for the blessings you already have
7. Waiting helps you keep focus and prepares you
8. Waiting may have to happen due to the fact that the timing isn’t right 

What You Can Do While You Wait

Here are some things you can do while you wait:

1. Pray
2. Trust in God
3. Utilize what you already have, and do what you can with it
4. Don’t give up hope

Examples of Waiting in the Bible

Joseph had to wait 13 years living as a slave and a prisoner before being released.

David waited 15 years to become king.

Sarah had to wait until she was 90 years old to have a child. 

Moses waited 40 years to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. 

Jacob waited 14 years before he could be with Rachel.

Job waited throughout all of his sufferings.

These are just some of the many examples of those who waited throughout the Bible. 

Bible Verses about Waiting

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

-Psalm 33:20

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong! Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.

-Proverbs 20:22 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

-Psalm 27:14  

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

-Isaiah 64:4 

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

-James 5:7 

I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.

-Isaiah 8:17

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

-Habakkuk 2:3

In Closing

The Lord follows through with His promises. If there is a delay in what you are seeking, remember He is not denying; rather, you must trust in His timing. Keep strong in your faith and hold steadfast to the knowledge that He hears you and He listens.

 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

Genesis 28:15

- Torrance Church of Christ

Faith-Based Bucket List Ideas for Christians

What is a Bucket List?

A Bucket List is a list of goals, hopes, and experiences one aims to accomplish before they “kick the bucket”. Bucket lists can help clarify the desires we want in our lives so we can better work toward achieving our goals. They can provide us with better focus and motivation, supplying us with the accountability for reaching our goals. 

Now, What is a Faith-Based Bucket List?

A Faith-Based Bucket List is much the same as a Bucket List. The only difference is your goals and experiences you are working toward include also working toward deepening your relationship with God and are aligned with Christian values. 

How to Create a Bucket List

Creating a Bucket List should be a fun and fulfilling process. It shouldn’t be difficult, but you will need to challenge yourself in order to discover what you’d really like to accomplish. 

Envision- Exercise your imagination and envision adventures, encounters, feelings, and objectives you’d like to have in your lifetime. 

Create a Blueprint- Design a plan that you’ll realistically be able to follow in order to reach your target. Map out the details and embark on your trek! 

Devote Yourself- Make a promise to yourself to follow through with your Bucket List. Committing will allow you to better focus on your dreams, causing them to become a reality. 

Enjoy the Process- Seek for meaning and purpose. Take a deep look inside yourself and your values to determine goals that will be rewarding. Above all, have fun! 

Faith-Based Bucket List Ideas

• Read the Bible in a year(there is a Bible reading plan you can follow here )
• Hop on a plane and travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to go
• Attend a Christian concert
• Invite a friend to church
• Donate to your local food pantry
• Tell someone how important they are to you
• Take a trip to Israel 
• Apologize for a past wrongdoing
• Volunteer somewhere
• Go on a mission trip
• Purchase a gift for a pastor
• Make and deliver a meal to someone in your Church Family
• Chaperone a youth mission trip
• Take an underprivileged child under your wings and give them a great Christmas
• Forgive someone
• Watch a faith-based movie
• Keep a prayer journal
• Spend Christmas in Bethlehem
• Lead someone to Christ
• Join a bible study group
• Attend a prayer group
• Memorize 20 Bible verses
• Send a friend a care package
• Buy a homeless person dinner
• Share your testimony
• Attend a service of a different faith
• Celebrate Passover
• Walk the shores of Galilee
• Learn to truly not judge others

Free Printable

Save and print this free printable so you can start writing your own Faith-Based Bucket List.

Before you go…

Remember, identifying your deepest aspirations is a gratifying process. Fulfilling those aspirations can be even more uplifting and beneficial. If you struggle along the way, seek our Father in prayer. He is always there for you, holding you up when you are down; cheering alongside you. 

- Torrance Church of Christ

Why you Shouldn’t Neglect your Spiritual Health

What is Spirituality

Oxford Languages defines spirituality as: the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. 

This means spirituality encompasses your whole being, what makes you YOU. When your spiritual health is in decline, then you are in decline. 

What is Spiritual Health

So what exactly is spiritual health? Spiritual health is the health of your soul, your spirit. Spiritual health is in a sense akin to your physical or mental health. When you have a broken arm, your physical health is afflicted. When you are feeling depressed or anxious, your mental health is unwell. When you are questioning your purpose in life, this could be a sign that your spiritual health is suffering. 

Why you Need to Sustain your Spiritual Health

Your mental health and your physical health can affect each other. When one is present, the other may not be trailing too far behind. Your spiritual health affects both your mental and physical health. When your spiritual health is unstable, you pose a greater risk of physical and mental impairment. 

Similar to your physical and mental health, your spiritual health will fluctuate throughout your life. This is why it is vital to tend to it and nourish it often. The more you feed your spiritual health, the less trials will bring you down. When your spiritual health is elevated, you’ll be able to bounce back from damaging circumstances less damaged, spared some of the injuries that could have been, giving you access to take notice of the silver lining. 

When you experience sound spiritual health, not only are you creating a safeguard for your mental and physical health, you are weaving a balance between the three, allowing your being to become whole. You will experience greater satisfaction in your life. You’ll be able to discover the meaning in your life, better equipped to live out the purpose God has for you. As you develop spiritually, you begin to develop a deeper relationship with God, as well as experience deeper connections with those around you. And as your relationship with God increases, peace will start to increase, allowing you to manage stress better, and create a life of gratitude. 

How to Maintain your Spiritual Health

• Pray
• Spend time in nature
• Keep a gratitude journal
• Meditate on God’s word
• Go for a walk
• Do some yoga
• Practice deep breathing exercises
• Forgive and let go of the past
• Reflect on your life
• Truly listen to others

Scriptures about Spiritual Health

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. -Proverbs 17:22

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. -Proverbs 16:2

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.   -Ezekiel 18:4

Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, -Acts 20:7 

Quotes about Spirituality and Spiritual Health

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

"At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“Spirituality is not about being fixed; it is about God being present in the mess of our unfixedness.” – Michael Yaconelli

“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from.” – Elizabeth Kübler-Ross

“When you connect to the silence within you, that is when you can make sense of the disturbance going on around you.” – Stephen Richards

“But no matter how much evil I see, I think it’s important for everyone to understand that there is much more light than darkness.” – Robert Uttaro

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” – Denis Waitley

“When we are spiritually healthy, we realize that we exist beyond the physical and our life has a sense of meaning and purpose.” – Robyn L. Gobin

“God's ultimate goal for your life on Earth is not comfort but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.” – Rick Warren

“God will test you because he wants you to grow up. He wants you to mature. He wants you to develop a walk with him that is not based on your fluctuating emotions but on your commitment to him as you learn to walk by faith.” – Greg Laurie

“And above all, remember that the meaning of life is to build a life as if it were a work of art.” – Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

“Anybody can thank God for good things. But when you can thank God even in the bad things, your faith grows and your spiritual roots go deeper.” – Rick Warren

Remember…

Spiritual health is fluid, at times it will waver. However, when you are steadfast in your spiritual journey, you’ll become better able to overcome the periods of low. When your level of spiritual health is high, your actions and words begin to align with God’s values, thereby revealing the purpose that God has for you in this life. It isn’t always an easy task, but you have the Lord by your side to carry you when you stumble. 

- Torrance Church of Christ