Are You Waiting or Going?

Easter has come and gone. We are in the 50-day waiting period before Pentecost; when the Holy Spirit was given to us. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to wait. I don’t like to wait because that usually means I’m not in control.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples on a few occasions. Before ascending into heaven, He instructed His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. While they were watching Him ascend, they were waiting, as if to see what else would happen, and two white-robed men suddenly appeared and asked why they were staring into heaven.

They were instructed to go and yet they were still waiting on the hill. Then, they were told, again, to go.

Jesus also told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. Jerusalem is far from “the rest of the world”, yet they had to go there to receive the Holy Spirit. It seems to me some of these commands and instructions were given a bit out of order. Do we go or do we wait?

Waiting = someone else is in control

Going/Doing = I’m in control

I think Jesus was giving them callings of what they were to do and yet He was telling them what needed to happen before they pursued their callings. To me this seems like a stop, go, and wait game all at the same time.

Do you ever feel like in your walk with Christ that He is calling you to go and wait at the same time? I get frustrated when I don’t know the plan. I have a hard time being spontaneous. I’m learning more about me in my enneagram studies and have confirmed that this goes along with how I act in life.

Here’s what’s frustrating to me: when I feel God has called me to something and then it seems I am asked to do what seems like the opposite of what I was first called to do. In hindsight, though, I often see God nudging me to do something that ultimately prepares me to do what He has called me to do. It’s more of a big picture versus small picture action plan.

This is the case for the disciples. They were called to go, yet they needed to stay to receive the Holy Spirit, so that they could be fully prepared to go and tell others about Christ.

What areas are you being called to today? How is the Holy Spirit leading you to this calling? In what areas is He preparing you?

Don’t shy away from God when you’re confused. Run to Him, pray to Him, and lean on Him. He desires to direct the paths of your heart. Are you open to both going and waiting?

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