Life seasons can be hard and life seasons can be carefree. They can be progressive and uphill, or downhill and detrimental. But "waiting" seasons - the seasons in between, on flat, neutral ground - are quite difficult. There doesn't seem to be anything to fight against, nothing to aim for, nothing to keep us motivated. We are waiting; the very notion puts us in the zone of “stagnant”. Still. Stuck. Unmoving.

But periods of waiting on God do not look like queues at the bank. We are not quietly standing in line, bored to death, waiting for God to pass out an assignment when it's finally our turn at the counter. There is an expectation that should accompany waiting on God. There is work to do. When we aren't discerning God's next assignment, at the very least, we should be wholly devoted to the last one He gave. We are waiting, yes. We are waiting, so we do what waiters do:

We serve.

Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus is talking about being prepared for the kingdom of heaven and His eventual return, but there is also a lesson in their waiting: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Just because we are waiting does not mean we are doing nothing. We are prepared and vigilant. Those 5 were ready, and the same 5 were serving. They brought what they needed and as soon as the movement arrived, they went.

We should be the same. When there's no room to progress our plans for the future, we look outside ourselves and serve others. While God keeps us waiting for the next assignment, we return to or continue serving the plans He instructed already. While we are sitting, we are praying - fervently, expectedly - with eyes, hands, and feet at the ready. Like the women at the gate, we are busy filling lamps with oil so they never run out. We are dressed and ready, not empty, laid back, and vacant. We are present, ever vigilant, and prepared. And if we aren't, then that is precisely what the season of waiting can be used for: preparation. God may be preparing us for a heart-change, an attitude shift, a spiritual gifting, or ministry equipping. He may be instilling patience, trust, and faith in us by keeping us chomping at the bit. The more we wait and respond to God in His time, the more obedient we learn to become.

While it is good to consider God is at work on our character in periods of waiting, it can be exhausting once we feel ready. When we are changed and grown, we struggle not to move ahead of His will. We may be comforted in knowing that God is not always waiting on us. Sometimes our next assignment will rely on the preparation and response of others, or other places. Sometimes we are waiting because they are not ready. God may still be working on the environment to which He will call us. God might still need to mold and prepare the people to receive our gifts. Waiting on God is more like a linebacker at the starting line, waiting for the 'hut'. Teammates are moving and shifting, getting in position; but the enemy is also being intimidated, left wondering when the play will strike. If it took 10 minutes for the snap, some may let their guard down, stand up straight, walk off field, or lay down bored. But what would happen when the center finally hiked the ball? It would be chaos scrambling to get back to where they should have been, catch the players, and affect the planned defense (or offense). Waiting on God can feel exhausting, can test our spiritual muscles and mental fortitude - but if we stay bent down in respect of the Lord's knowledge of the best play, and most importantly - the best timing - we will always be ready to enact the perfect plan, at the perfect time, for the best possible results.

The Lord calls us to partner with him in life and ministry, and that sometimes involves waiting.  "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14). Waiting is an act of courage, the ability to do something that is painful or scary. Remember that waiting does not mean giving up. Remember to do what waiters do and serve the Lord your God.