"Uno!" Carolina cried as we sat on our back patio waiting for the dough to rise.
Along with my Spanish teaching coworker, Rochelle, I had invited our exchange student friend over tin June to create authentic Italian pizza. Carolina had to jet back to her home country in just a few days.
She had begun the dough-making process at 3 pm It was now 7:00 and I tried to ignore my grumbling stomach as we played games and chatted about common Italian phrases.
Finally, at 8 o'clock, Carolina called us into the warm kitchen.
"It's ready!"
The smell of garlic and yeasty crust filled the house and my mouth watered when I spotted Carolina's creations. Rectangular pies dotted with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves steamed on the countertop, beckoning us to dig in.
After praying, we did just that and experienced a commingling of flavors on which the Italian people refuse to compromise, each separate ingredient melding to create a tantalizing whole.
Perched around the table, my kids licked their fingers and reached for another slice as we savored the richness of a meal and a fellowship that only time could create.
As the whole world has been forced to hit the "pause" button during social distancing and quarantine, I find my thoughts drifting to those in the infertility community who feel they've already waited a lifetime to fulfill their dreams of having a family.
With even infertility specialists' and adoption agencies' work deemed "non-essential", your "hurry up and wait" has reached a new level of anxiety. COVID-19 and its restrictions have shattered any sense of control you might have garnered when you made your family-building plan.
Can I encourage you today, BF (Blog Friend)?
While it feels like progress toward your goal of having a child has come to a standstill, nothing could be further from the truth. During this forced wait, God does not tarry. Like the hours required to fashion the perfect Italian pizza, our heavenly father commands waiting seasons to bring about delicious blessings.
Indeed, the passage of time is often the only prerequisite for receiving God's matchless provision for us.
Yes, we wait.
But...
God works.
John 5 tells us that the Jews were after Jesus because he had healed a crippled man on the Sabbath. Jesus defended himself by saying, "My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I."
Psalm 121:4 offers comfort for the anxious and impatient believer: The God who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
God is not social distancing, quarantining, or deemed a non-essential employee. He is not sheltering in place hoping for Target to restock their toilet paper shelves. His labor is not inhibited in the slightest by COVID-19.
You can stop fretting over missed cycles and missed opportunities because...
God. Is. Always. On. The. Job.
Let's pray about this, shall we?
Lord, we're fed up with COVID-19. As if we weren't waiting enough, now this pandemic comes along and messes with our dreams even more. Please help us to trust that you are always working for our good. Help us to rest in the knowledge that you operate outside of human time and, thus, are always directing moments and seasons of waiting with your kindness. Though our hands often feel tied, yours are always orchestrating wonders fashioned just for us. We surrender our wait to your perfect timing.
And a bonus song to go with your waiting prayer. How about a little time spent in worship today?
Until next time, friend!
Your hope cheerleader,
📣
Sarah
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