waiting well

i've always felt an inner conflict when it comes to the idea of resolutions for the new year. if i'm honest with myself, i know that i (like so many others) will fail in fulfilling my resolutions. whether i resolve to make changes to my physical, spiritual, or emotional self, generally i come up short. but there's just something about entering into a new year that begs, even demands, that we start fresh and take advantage of the opportunity to "begin again" in certain areas of our lives.

this year a friend of mine turned me onto the idea of "naming your year". the tradition comes out of the historical practice of lectio divina and is intended to provide a context or a structure for study of god's word throughout the year. rather than resolving to make changes in various areas of my life, this year i am choosing to focus on a simple phrase and the lessons god has for me in that, knowing and expecting that it will ultimately have impact throughout all aspects of my life.

the concept of 'waiting well' has been pressing on my heart for weeks. i feel like so much of my adult life has been about waiting. waiting for jobs, degrees, children, homes, friends. waiting for the next stage. waiting to discern the "no's" from the "not yet's". so much waiting. and we're still waiting. waiting for answers with jobs. waiting for the opportunity to own a home. waiting through the next hard stages of development and parenting. waiting, waiting, waiting. and while i feel so tired of the waiting, i also have this sense that the lord is pressing it into my heart that i need to learn the discipline of waiting well. not simply complaining through the process or rushing along timelines to satisfy my own desires. but truly waiting, with a grateful heart, for the lord's timing.

so this year i am naming my year, "waiting well." i fully expect to be given opportunities to wait. i know it will be hard. the only wait to learn patience is to wait and i know it will stretch me and it might even hurt a little (or a lot). but i am trusting that god will show me his faithfulness through the waiting. i am trusting that he will open his word to me in new ways to show me how to wait well. and i am trusting that he will bless the waiting.