The Most Important Thing You Can Do In Your Waiting
“Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ ” John 6:29 (ESV)
Have you been waiting for something for so long, you’re starting to think it just might not happen? Has doubt over the future kept you from taking action, or sent you spiraling in fear?
My husband and I made life-altering decisions to walk through doors God was opening. It meant some big changes. We moved across oceans and started over in a city where we knew no one. We said ‘yes’ to the unknown, and ever since, I’ve been waiting for my career breakthrough—the culminating prize of hard-earned degrees and jobs, a childhood dream.
Over and over in my mind I’d think, Did I get it wrong? What is Your purpose for me if it isn’t this? What do I do now?
As I wrestled with these doubts, I felt angry. I questioned whether God was withholding, or if I misunderstood His direction from the get-go. I became desperate. My external productivity scale reached new levels of low, and the surplus of time took my internal dialogue to a dark place. I couldn’t reconcile what I knew to be true of my calling with the reality that it wasn’t taking place.
Maybe you know the pain of an unanswered prayer, the longing of a dream unfulfilled. Whether in your career, your hopes for a family, or maybe a certain health diagnosis, you know the ache from absence of a good and God-given desire. Oh friend, it can be so hard to know how to keep going, how to keep waiting, or even if you should.
Even the disciples and other followers of Jesus questioned the details of their daily living, and they too became frustrated when His response didn’t immediately satisfy.
In John 6, a crowd of followers sought Jesus to ask an important question, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (John 6:28, ESV). And Jesus responds with our key verse, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:29).
It can’t be that simple, right? I’m sure that was an unexpected answer to a desperate plea for understanding. But, friend, this is God’s utmost desire of us. In the waiting, trust Him. In the unexpected, trust Him. It’s the most important thing you can do when nothing else makes sense.
The disciples were trying to understand the task, or how they could accomplish some purpose by performance, but Jesus called attention to their heart. Satisfying God and living a satisfying life does not come from the work we do, but from whom we believe.
Though brief, Jesus’ response speaks to the root of our anxiety when it comes to living a meaningful life—it’s about our heart. Even if that prayer remains unanswered, He says believe.
My friend, I promise you are not alone in your waiting and wondering. But as you wrestle in your wait, I pray you remember our most important work is to believe in the One He has sent to satisfy us.