Watching the three little dots on my phone as my friend was texting back brought up this weird anxiety in me. I was surprised by it because sitting and waiting for a reply has never really bothered me like it did that morning.
You know those three little typing bubbles in a text message? Yeah, those. Do you ever find yourself impatiently waiting on a response from someone? What about waiting on a response, or the next thing from God – do you do that?
I felt this strange anticipation that was growing in me, second after second, that became impatience and somewhat a lack of self-control. None of these are fruits of the Spirit of the Holy Living God living inside of me.
I caught myself, thankfully, and closed the text. I am reminding myself regularly to step back, let it go, and relax. People will respond when and if they want to. It is not up to me. Sitting there waiting was not doing anything good for me.
Likewise, we can find peace in learning to be patient and wait on God. He has a word for us, but it will come in His time, not ours.
It’s a slow process, but I am surely learning that there is joy and peace in knowing everything is in His hands. He has a plan. He will reply.
I am reminded of Habakkuk 2:1 (CSB), which says, “I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint.”
Silence doesn’t mean absence. Sometimes the answer is still being formed.
God is working even when we don’t see or feel it. How do we know this? Because He is faithful, and when we slow down enough to look back at our lives, we can find evidence of his faithfulness.
Those three little bubbly dots that wiggle on your screen cause anticipation – someone is forming words, and you know something is coming, but you don’t know what – or when.
We sit, stare, and try to predict what is coming. Often, we think it is a rejection or a negative thought. Our thoughts can spiral out of control and make the anticipation become anxiety.
Let’s turn that thought into the truth. Psalm 5:3 (CSB) tells us, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.”
I love that expectancy. I know He will respond because He loves me, He loves you, and He is faithful. We can be eager to hear from Him and patient – two things can be true at once. Don’t create the response in your head before Him.
Don’t assume and catastrophize. Pray and give it to Him. Let those three little bubbles do their thing and remember it’s a sign that the answer is being formed. Activate your spiritual gift of self-control and be patient while God forms his response to you.
