God Is Still Working in the Waiting

Even after more than 25 years of serving God on the mission field, waiting is still hard for me.

You would think after all these years I would have this part figured out. I know God is faithful. I know His character. I have watched Him provide and answer prayers in ways I could never have imagined. But that doesn’t mean I never struggle in the waiting.

The other day while I was worshipping, God brought me back to something He taught me before I ever moved to Mozambique.

“Learn how to worship Me without music. Learn how to live in one room.”

I remember thinking, That’s weird. How?

When I arrived in Mozambique to live on December 15, 2000, I was taken to the children’s center where I would be serving. There were hundreds of children, pastors, missionaries and workers. It was loud, busy and completely overwhelming.

Then they showed me where I was going to live.

One square room.

I kind of chuckled.

God had told me to learn how to live in one room, and there it was. Literally one room.

It didn’t take long before I began to understand the other thing He had told me too.

There was noise all the time. Sometimes the electricity was off. Sometimes music only added to the noise. So there were times I would sit on the floor in the corner and just be with God.

No music. Sometimes no singing. Sometimes I whispered, and sometimes I simply talked to Him in my mind.

And I learned that I could feel His presence even in the silence.

I learned that worship isn’t just singing. Prayer is worship. Being still before God is worship. I could be surrounded by noise and chaos and still be alone with Him.

More than 25 years later, I still need that lesson.

There are still things I am waiting for. There are still unanswered prayers. There are still days when I ask God, How much longer?

And that's when I have to go back to the beginning.

Before I ever became a missionary, God asked me, “Will you go and serve Me no matter what happens?”

I said yes.

Sometimes I have to remind myself, Okay, Angie. You said yes.

Then I remember the one room. I remember sitting on that floor. I remember all the times I didn’t know what God was doing—and all the ways He came through.

I’m still here. I’m still serving. I’m still learning. And I’m still saying yes.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” — Isaiah 40:31

If you are waiting too, maybe you don’t need to have everything figured out today.

Go back and remember what God has already brought you through. Remember His faithfulness.

Worship Jesus. Trust Jesus. Rest in Jesus.

God is still working—even in the waiting.