In an age of instant this, and instant that, waiting has become a serious discipline… especially when it’s your only option!

There are many things in life that we can “speed up” if we’re willing to cut corners, side-step certain situations and/or individuals, or even make do with a sub-standard finished product.

When it comes to spiritual growth, the growth of our ministry, or anything else that can only be grown through the working of God… than patience becomes more than just a virtue… it becomes an absolute necessity… to our sanity, and longevity, as a minister.

I like the way Paul talks about this when writing to the church in Corinth about the source of true growth:

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Cor. 3:6).

We seem to be coming out of a LONG watering season in the life of our ministry on campus… and starting to enjoy some of the fruit of our labor… and patience.

The students who helped us plant the seeds of a number of ministry efforts have long graduated and moved on. Likewise, many of the students who have worked with us during the watering season have completed their degrees and transitioned to a new season of life.

But their blood sweat and tears were not in vain.

We’ve waited, in faith, and believed that God was (and still is) at work beneath the surface of our prayerful efforts!

Watering season can be hard…

And while that’s challenging enough for the staff – that has a long-term vision and buy-in to our ministry efforts on campus – it’s much harder, I believe, on student leaders who want so badly to see God move in mighty ways instantly! – especially on the heals of big prayers, creative efforts, new ideas and a strong belief that something “more” should be happening.

In an instant society, waiting can often feel more like death or dying…

But learning to listen for the leading of God – above all of the noise, distraction and promptings from those who struggle to be patient to try something new – must become a new “spiritual discipline” that is regularly practiced.

Waiting is hard… but God works in our waiting.

SO,

How do you deal with the “watering seasons?”

How do you help students through times of slow growth?

How do you help those that you report to (those who fund your ministry, pay your salary, or have “decision-making” authority) understand this important reality of ministry?