Dealing with Seasons of Waiting

This month we have talked about surviving the valleys of life and marriage. Then we looked at how to make the most of the highs. Finally, we looked at dealing with the transitions that we encounter in marriage. Now comes probably the most difficult kind of season that couples deal with together: seasons of waiting.

The first five years of our marriage were both difficult and exciting. God did a lot of work in both of us and in our marriage during those years. It was after two years of marriage that we decided we wanted to start a family. We knew it might be difficult or take awhile because of a surgery Nancy had before we were married. I was having a lot of fun with the process but it began to take a toll on Nancy as month after month the pregnancy tests were negative. Over the next couple of years, Nancy went through procedures and a major surgery. Each time we got our hopes up but each month’s results were the same. The waiting was beginning to wear on both of us.

Then God began to work on both of our hearts and we both came to the decision of adopting at literally the same time. We were ecstatic about the idea. We knew that was God’s plan for us and we loved it. What we did not realize was that we were going to go through another season of waiting as we applied, were accepted, and waited on our baby. The adoption process took over a year and that was on top of the four years we had been trying. We made matters worse by getting the nursery ready right after we were accepted. It was hard for both of us, but especially on Nancy as she looked in that nursery with an empty baby bed month after month.   

Seasons of waiting are tough. Some of you are in one now and some have been there. Our season of waiting ended with a baby. I know for every couple that is not the case and I know that there are many different kinds of seasons of waiting. Many don’t involve having a baby, but  may involve sickness, financial hardship or something else. Whatever the season of waiting, this is what we learned. God does have a plan for each of us. We don’t always understand His plan but it is always good. The outcome may be different than what we wanted and sometimes different than what we prayed for, but it will be perfect for us. Let God grow you closer to Him and to each other in your season of waiting.