We wait all the time–in traffic, commissary lines, for our kids to get ready, for our husbands to walk through the door, for PCS orders, and on goes the list. Even after thirteen years as an Army spouse, “hurry up and wait” is a struggle for me.

However, God can teach and grow us in the waiting.

We began the adoption process, very much a hurry-up-and-wait-game, while stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. We hurried up and completed paperwork, and then we waited. We thought we would have a few years at Benning, but unexpected PCS orders to Leavenworth, Kansas came and a heavy weight fell on my heart.

This weight was not because we had two weeks to move. We, military women, can pack up a house, know all the hot spots in our new hometown, and make connections in two weeks. The weight was because of a lack of understanding why the Lord was having us start the adoption process over again. But my hope was in Him and the plan He had for our family.

On a morning jog around Leavenworth golf course, God put open adoption on my heart. SURPRISE! This was not our plan; this was a scary option. We would have a relationship with the birth family and we would more than likely adopt a newborn! We never thought we would have another baby in our home and open adoption was something we were not comfortable pursuing. I just waited and prayed for the Lord to confirm this path.

I did not even share with my husband but God was working. My husband came to me a few weeks later and said we needed to get out of our comfort zones and look into open adoption.

But I love my comfort zone and it’s so much easier!

Guess what, ladies? God is not interested in our comfort zones. In Luke 9:23 Jesus explains that we must deny our selfish ways and take up our cross daily as followers of Him. Our Lord is not interested in comfort, but He is interested in making Jesus known and for believers to know Him more.

Think about those times you have stepped out of comfort into obedience. They are probably times you have relied on God a little more, sought Him a little more, and have truly grown in your faith.

The first steps out of comfort are the hardest. Is God asking you to take those first steps?

We took those first uncomfortable steps and waited. Another year was coming to an end and we learned we would PSC to Alaska in the coming months. My hope started to waver like Peter’s did in Matthew 14. The Lord did just as Peter had asked and then Peter took his eyes off the Lord. I had focused on circumstances instead of seeking the Lord first.

God showed us that His plans for us were much bigger than we could have ever imagined. We were matched with a birth mom and after waiting years, I had three weeks to prepare for a newborn. I love God’s sense of humor!

God’s timing was perfect and He was in every detail. Our baby was going to be born in Columbus, Georgia. For those of you who may not know Columbus, it is the home of Fort Benning. That’s right! Of the thousands of cities in the United States that we could adopt from, God was taking us back to the place we had started our adoption journey over 2 years prior. Columbus, Georgia is a place we had called home three times, a place where believers had been praying with and for us, a place that offered sweet friends for support during our stay. This was a welcome surprise to us but no surprise to our God.

My husband and I made it from Kansas to Georgia for our son, Elijah’s, birth and our waiting came to an end. He is well worth the wait!!

I share this to remind you: [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][tweetthis]Waiting is an action even when you may feel like nothing is happening.[/tweetthis] Waiting on God’s perfect timing means putting your hope in Him and expecting. Waiting is hard but necessary.

I encourage you in your times of waiting to pray, stay in God’s word, and seek Him. He will be your strength and hope.

Lisa loves encouraging others and serving families in the communities God plants her. Lisa desires military women to fully grasp God’s love and plan for them in their own military journey. She strongly advocates that once you understand God’s love, you can give it and once you accept His plans for you, you can be a part of them. Lisa is a proud Army spouse, mother of 4 children, and current administrative coordinator for the Planting Roots Team.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]