by Jeanne Takenaka, @JeanneTakenaka

Is it possible to live with contentment in waiting times?

“W-A-I-T” isn’t a four-letter word. Well, not that kind of four-letter word. 

If there’s one word that defines the writing journey, it’s “wait.” 

We wait for feedback from critique partners.

We wait for contest feedback.

We wait to hear back from our dream agent.

We wait to know if an editor likes our story enough to take it to the pub board.

And we wait for the pub board to make a decision. 

“Content” is a synonym of “satisfied.” Can we live satisfied when we have open loops in our lives? When we’re in waiting times? Whether we’re waiting for an answer, a decision, or a changed circumstance, we always have a choice as to how we wait. 

We can wait in anxiety.

Wait in impatience.

Wait in anticipation.

Wait with contentment.
I suspect that when we feel anxious or impatient in a waiting season, it’s because we’re really, truly hoping the awaited answer will be what we want. Sometimes it is. And other times, it’s not.

What’s the key to having contentment in waiting times?

First, it comes down to trusting God. When we believe . . .

in His good character . . . 

in the reality that He is always trustworthy . . .

in the truth that His timing is always perfect . . .

It will be easier to walk through the waiting times.

God knows the timing and the plans He has for our writing journeys. He knows the “whys” behind our waits. When we trust God to bring about His best for us in His perfect timing, we can wait with contentment.

Our waiting is a part of God’s plan. God gives us opportunities to grow in character qualities in those waiting seasons. 

Ideas to help us choose contentment in waiting times:

Here are six ideas to help us choose contentment in any waiting season.

• Stay in God’s word. When we read of His character and faithfulness, we recall who He is, which helps us remember His plans are good, even if they aren’t always what we hope for.
• Pray. God invites us to bring all that’s on our hearts to Him. Even when He hasn’t given a direction yet, talking with Him about our thoughts and feelings during the wait draws us closer to Him and can give us peace.
• Find ways to encourage others. When we have the opportunity to come alongside others, our minds stay off of ourselves. Which is a good thing.
• Choose to trust God’s timing, regardless of what you’re waiting for. This relieves anxiety and encourages contentment.
• Start our next project. This not only gives us other stories to pitch to editors, it also takes our mind off of the fact that we’re waiting on an answer for our current story.
• Keep a big-picture perspective. When we become worried about a lack of an answer or progress on our writing journeys, let’s remember God is working in bigger ways than just that one situation.

Conclusion:

The next time you find yourself in a waiting time, remember God’s character. Choose to keep a satisfied heart attitude. Engage in activities that focus your thoughts in productive directions. And always, always choose to trust God.

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Award-winning, aspiring novelist and blogger Jeanne Takenaka writes contemporary fiction that highlights how faith and grace hold hands in relationships with people and with God. She, her husband, and two boy-men call Colorado home. She loves being a God-seeker, hanging out with friends, and savoring oat milk lattés. When she’s not writing, you can find her, camera in hand, searching for #alittlebitofpretty. She’s a member of ACFW and Novel Academy.