By Georgeann McCrary

Are waiting and wasting one in the same? I ask this question because I often hear people say they are waiting for a blessing, waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right, and waiting on a financial break-through. But during the time that is passing what steps are being taken to get that blessing? Are you working through your own issues and baggage in order to be prepared when Mr. or Ms. Right shows up? What seed has been planted and watered in order to manifest that break-through? Has anything been done, fostered, nurtured, or prepared? Or is there just waiting, waiting, and more waiting for this miraculous event to occur without effort?

Can all this desire and faith by itself amount to anything? That same question is posed in the Bible. “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20 KJV). Later in James 2:26 the question is answered, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” The Message Bible further describes “faith apart from works is inactive, ineffective, and worthless.” Simply put, faith without some sort of effort means nothing is happening. The situation remains lifeless and corpse-like. Yes, we need to believe and have faith, yet we often miss the works portion so waiting then becomes wasting…wasting time.

As we are waiting and wasting, life is moving forward. Whether we choose to move or be stagnant the sun rises and sets daily and the grass continues to grow. We have to make sure that we continue to be forward moving as well with bettering ourselves, renewing our minds, and taking the necessary steps to manifest those things that we desire. Nothing just happens. Now you may be thinking, ‘God told me to be still and wait on Him.’ Indeed there are times when the Holy Spirit will instruct us to be still. However, even in one’s stillness there is prayer and meditation that should be taking place.

Stillness does not mean idleness. This stillness means communing with God and discerning the messages He sends about what one’s next right action should be. This waiting is not wasting because there is some action taking place. There is effort, intention, and focus on God. So if you are diligently waiting and not wasting for something in your life to happen, make sure that there are some works, effort, and action being taken. Couple that that mustard seed of faith and surely many wonderful things will blossom in your garden called life.