It's Sunday night, and Lisa and I are literally just finishing what has been a long day of ministry for us. I spoke today on the question "What am I going to do with my life?" The topic really seemed to resound with people who have a desire for God to do something in their lives but aren't really sure where to start.

This might sound weird, but I'm going to share something I learned from giving this message today. Yes... believe it or not pastors should learn something even when they speak. The biggest thing I learned from my message today was that...

Many people feel like they are in "the waiting game" in life right now.

"The waiting game," is a sense that God will do something large in our lives, but current mundane circumstances cause us to feel in between, unsure, and as if what we're doing now is marginally significant. I didn't expect so many people to respond that they felt like they were precisely in this place, but lots of you are there right now from the show of hands in the service and conversations I had afterward.

I have been through many waiting times in my life. They aren't fun, but in some ways life is really one big waiting game to the next, so we all need to learn to "wait well." Truthfully...

Hearing God's voice = much easier said than done.

I also took a risk today to be vulnerable up front and say that I have never received a clear "call" from God to be a pastor. Some might say that makes my ministry illegitimate. I respectfully disagree. For me, it has been more a journey of discovering my gifts and abilities and realizing that pastoral ministry was the perfect "fit" for my life. While there have been a few key undeniable acts of God in there, it's been much more of a process for me. The ONLY reason I do sometimes hear from God is when I open the Bible and pray. As trite as it sounds. The Bible is called "God's word" because it is "God's word."

BOTTOM LINE: hearing God's voice is no easier for a pastor than anyone else. Many pastors feel like their ministry is one big waiting game for God to "do something." Truth is, He is often waiting on US to "DO SOMETHING." We need to learn to "wait actively."

Here are a few ways I challenged our church to "wait actively" that I leave to anyone out there who feels like they're in a "waiting game." Hopefully it helps you.

1. Remember what you deserve. Many of us live life thinking God owes something to us and unintentionally confuse God's will for their lives with an illusion of grandeur. We deserve death, punishment, and separation from God. In Christ, God has already given us everything we could ever desire in this life and riches unfathomable in the next. When in a waiting game, keep this in mind to put things in perspective.

2. Stick to the basics. God's will is very simple: he wants our obedience. The next right decision in front of us is God's will for us. In a waiting season, there are still lots of things right here and right now we need to take seriously. They might seem mundane, but they are not.

3. It takes TIME. If God has spoken something to you that He wants to do in your life (yes I believe He does that - Check John 16:13 if you don't believe me), always remember that it takes TIME. Nothing great happens overnight.

Are you in a waiting season? Leave a comment. I'd love to pray for you.

LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE on the web HERE or on iTunes HERE if you'd like.

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