Ladies, did you ever receive a promise ring from a boyfriend? I’m not sure if that’s even a thing now, but back in the day it was. This promise-to-stay-together ring was a symbol of the boyfriend’s intention to propose one day.  It was the ring before the engagement ring, so to say. Though no doubt there were many of these promises broken in many of said relationships, the giving and receiving of the promise ring marked a couple of things for the girl and the boy: the waiting and the expectation of things to come.

There’s a passage in the New Testament that really has me thinking about the experience of waiting. And, what to do when you’re in the middle of something and you know something great (dare I say, greater!) is about to happen. It’s an exciting time to be in, but also, waiting is not fun or easy. Nor is it passive. It’s actually an active process, as we will see from Acts Chapter 1 and 2. 

These chapters describe a special time in the life of Jesus’ followers. He had been crucified yet here he was with them, presenting himself alive and talking to them about the Kingdom of God (1:1-3). He gave them instructions, which included directions for them to “wait for the promise of the Father” (1:4). That promise was the Holy Spirit’s arrival and was actually given by Jesus in more detail back in the Book of John Chapters 15 and 16. 

About this promise, Jesus said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) 

I think I would have been excited, a bit anxious with apprehension and really, really eager. Jesus appears to them and tells them that the Holy Spirit would come and give them power to accomplish a certain mission. And yet, they had to wait on it. Then He left (1:9) just as he said he would do.  It was then that his followers began to do the things that oftentimes we begrudgingly put off doing in the middle of a waiting season.

I so get it. For some, I imagine, it’s invigorating to know that you are on your way to the finish line, though the victory might still be out of your reach. For most of us, however, the middle part of the waiting process is where fatigue or weariness can set in. Perhaps, even confusion or doubt about the next step (What do I do?  How am I going to finish this?). This was likely happening among the people in this passage—because being in the in-between is hard.

What did they do? They first, obeyed (1:12) his instructions. Next, they gathered (1:13). . . together. They needed one another and no doubt, were not going to miss out on the promise fulfilled. Next, they devoted themselves (1:14) in unity to prayer. They spoke the Word out loud (1:16), likely to remind themselves of the promises that had been given to them. And lastly, they conducted the Lord’s business amongst themselves as they waited (1: 21-25). One scholar noted that they would have been literally praying constantly, through all of these activities.

And then the day of Pentecost arrived, and the Holy Spirit came. Acts 2:1 and 4 reads, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”

And the world has never been the same. The Spirit of God came to them, is here, among us, dwelling with His followers.  In the middle of your roads, when you’re playing the waiting game (I’m learning that’s a part of almost every season), remember these takeaway truths to help you through the process:

Evaluate Your Expectations:  Be aware of what you are expecting during this season. Believe it or not, sometimes we can live our lives without coming to terms with our own thoughts and feelings as well as our expectations of the Lord. This is where acknowledgment can be helpful. Spend some time writing down what you are hoping for as you are actively waiting in this in-between season. Pray about those things, fully aware of what you are asking God for.

Align Yourself with Truth:  What does the Word say about your situation? Is your expectation aligned with God’s promises for you? Even more important than questions about your situation are questions about who God is.  What has Jesus told you about Himself as you wait in the in-betweens? Go back to what He has said, just like His followers had to do in the passage.

Know You’re Going to Get Weary & Weak:  You’re not Super Woman. How those characters survive the beatings they get is beyond me. They should have been dead a long time ago. Here’s something we don’t or won’t say out loud:  So, should your hope (be dead a long time ago) by now. But it’s not. Because what God promises, He will fulfill and though we wait, we wait with hope from the Holy Spirit.

Keep Your Eyes Fixed:  Wrestle with the God who can move mountains, yet hasn’t. Praise Him for what He has yet to do. Focus on His character when you want to complain to others about your waiting. Turn it all into something that glorifies Him. First in your heart and mind and then, in your words and actions. 

Listen.  Really, Listen: Part of keeping your eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of your faith is listening intently. This means you’re going to have to say, “NO!”, to other attentions that want to pull you away. Namely, your own doubts and fears and inhibitions.  Hear Him in the small, everyday parts of your day and lean into His Word. Hear Him in the big, here-and-again happenings that stop you in your tracks and say to yourself, “He is here.” Because He is.

And when the time comes, my friend, God will fulfill his promise to you. All things truly are worth the wait with our God.