Waiting hasn’t been my favorite season of life, but it has been the season that has produced the most fruit in me. Waiting hasn’t always been enjoyable, yet it is where I have seen God show up most. In our suffering and hardship lies this promise: Because of God, I will see His goodness. Because of God, I will shout for joy!

Perhaps the waiting has felt so hard because you’ve been in spiritual labor. You’ve been doing your best to endure. You need to know that your waiting is not in vain.

If you are waiting for a family member to come to know Jesus, for that college acceptance letter, for marriage or children, or for a new job—whatever you are waiting for and petitioning God for—it will not be in vain. Our suffering here on earth is not meant to define us. Quite the opposite. God can produce life and fruit through our suffering and receive the glory.

We can do the naming. We can reclaim our seasons of waiting and name God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Currently, I am navigating an unexpected autoimmune disease diagnosis. While I am still waiting for answers, healing, and guidance, I have chosen to name this season one that will exalt Jesus. I have chosen to endure. God has given me one life to live and one body to steward, and it is a privilege to care for what He has entrusted to me.

I refuse to waste this waiting season. I refuse to let my circumstances to produce rotten fruit in me. I am determined to give birth to faith. I am determined to give birth to hope. I am determined to be transformed.

For I know I cannot do it apart from Jesus. My fruit will testify that I waited on Him and depended on Him in the waiting. I am alive today solely because of the Lord, and no diagnosis, no circumstance, and no ounce of suffering will rob me of the joy of knowing Him in the waiting.

Reflect and respond: Examine your fruit. Examine your journey. What good has come from your season of waiting? Finish this sentence: Because of God, ___________________.