While You’re Waiting
Joshua 22:5 — Be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.
“Action cures anxiety.”
I heard somebody say that the other day, and it kind of stopped me in my tracks.
Now, I don’t think it’s quite that simple.
Sometimes anxiety is more than something we can work our way through. And sometimes the very thing we’re anxious about is something we have absolutely no control over.
But the more I thought about that little phrase, the more I realized there might be something worth considering.
Because have you ever noticed how much time we can spend worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet?
We replay conversations.
Imagine worst-case scenarios.
Try to figure out every possible outcome.
And before we know it, we’ve spent half the day living in a tomorrow that hasn’t even arrived.
And then there’s the waiting.
Oh, the waiting.
That’s the part that gets me.
When you’re waiting on an answer you desperately need.
A phone call.
A test result.
A decision that could change everything.
You want to know what’s going to happen.
You want to make a plan.
You want to do something.
Anything.
But sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to make the answer come any faster.
The clock keeps ticking.
The days keep passing.
And you’re still right where you were yesterday.
Have you ever been there?
It’s frustrating, isn’t it?
Because when we can’t control what’s happening around us, our minds have a way of filling in the blanks.
And let me tell you, our imaginations can come up with some pretty frightening possibilities.
We start worrying about what might happen.
Then we worry about what we’ll do if it happens.
And before long, we’re carrying the weight of situations that may never even come to pass.
Meanwhile, there’s an entire day right in front of us.
A day filled with people to love.
Opportunities to serve.
And little moments of goodness we might miss because we’re so focused on what comes next.
That’s what made me think about Joshua 22:5.
“Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”
I love the simplicity of that instruction.
Love God.
Walk in His ways.
Hold firmly to Him.
Serve Him with all your heart.
Now, Joshua was speaking to the Israelites, reminding them to remain faithful to God as they returned to their homes after helping their fellow Israelites.
He wasn’t giving them a detailed explanation of everything that would happen in the years ahead.
He was reminding them how to live faithfully, wherever life took them.
And I think there’s something beautiful about that.
Because God hasn’t asked us to know everything that’s coming.
He hasn’t asked us to figure out every answer before we take the next step.
And He certainly hasn’t asked us to carry the weight of tomorrow all by ourselves.
He’s called us to love Him.
To trust Him.
To walk in His ways.
And to serve Him with the life He’s given us.
Even while we’re waiting.
And that got me thinking.
What if, instead of spending every waking moment worrying about what we can’t control, we looked for something good we could do with what we can control?
What if we called that friend who’s been having a hard time?
What if we took a meal to someone who’s overwhelmed?
What if we checked on a neighbor?
What if we offered to help someone who’s carrying a burden of their own?
Not because we’re trying to ignore our problems.
Not because staying busy will magically make our worries disappear.
But because our lives still have purpose, even when we don’t have all the answers.
And sometimes, doing something loving for someone else reminds us of that.
You know, it’s easy to put life on hold when we’re waiting for something important.
We tell ourselves, Once I get through this, I’ll have time for other people.
Once I know what’s going to happen, I’ll be able to relax.
Once this situation is resolved, I’ll start living again.
But what if the waiting lasts longer than we expected?
What if the answer doesn’t come tomorrow?
What if we’re still waiting next week?
Or next month?
Does that mean our lives have to stand still?
I don’t think so.
Because waiting for an answer doesn’t mean we have to wait to make a difference.
We can still love.
We can still encourage.
We can still pray.
We can still serve.
And we can still find meaningful ways to use the day God has placed in front of us.
Now, I want to be clear about something.
Serving others isn’t a cure for every anxious thought.
And if you’re struggling with anxiety, that doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong or that you just need to try harder.
Sometimes we need rest.
Sometimes we need someone to talk to.
Sometimes we need additional support.
And there’s nothing wrong with any of that.
But I wonder if, in those seasons when we’re waiting on something we can’t control, God might also be inviting us to notice the opportunities we do have.
Because there are people around us who need encouragement.
People who need kindness.
People who need someone to remind them they’re not alone.
And maybe, while we’re waiting for God to work in our circumstances, we can be part of the way He’s working in someone else’s life.
I don’t know about you, but that thought lights a little fire in me.
Because it reminds me that I don’t have to have everything figured out to do something meaningful today.
I don’t have to know what tomorrow holds to love somebody right now.
And I don’t have to wait until every problem is solved before I can serve the Lord with all my heart.
So if you’re in a season of waiting, I want to encourage you.
Keep praying.
Keep trusting.
Take the steps you can take.
And when there’s nothing more you can do about the situation that’s weighing on your heart, look around.
Is there someone you could encourage?
Someone you could help?
Someone who could use a little extra love today?
You may not be able to change what happens tomorrow.
But you can bring a little more love into today.
And while you’re waiting for an answer, don’t forget that God can still use your life to make a difference.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- Are you currently waiting for an answer or outcome that’s beyond your control? How has that uncertainty affected your thoughts and daily life?
- What does Joshua 22:5 teach you about remaining faithful to God when you don’t know what lies ahead?
- Have you ever become so focused on a future concern that you overlooked opportunities to experience or share God’s goodness today?
- How might serving or encouraging someone else help you find purpose during a difficult season of waiting?
- What’s one practical way you can love God or serve another person today, even if your own circumstances haven’t changed?
QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY
While I’m waiting for God to work in my circumstances, how might He want to work through me in someone else’s life?
