Weight definition: downward force of a body; heaviness; pressure, care; burden.

Weightless definition: having no weight as a result of a lack of gravitational pull, as in space.

Wait definition: remain; expecting something

I am so happy that grad school is over and the piece of paper that I studied three years for is soon to arrive in my mail box. It was preparation for the greater work. My question is what many have been curiously asking: So now what can you do with the degree? Clumsily I answer I could do this or I could do that, but my main response is I am being obedient to God by getting the degree, and I’m waiting on Him for the next move.  Unfortunately, I feel very weighted, and not in a good way.

If allowed, the weight of waiting can be heavy. I remember starting class, and feeling initially intimidated by my classmates who were already doing the work, as they were already in ministry, from being a deacon for years or being a minister since they were a teenager, all knowing their calling. As for me, my thought was that I was here to prepare myself for the next work. And so I continued with the study, trusting God to get finished with the program while trying not to think about what would happen after graduation day. That day was May 21, 2016, being thankful I had finished and being sad about not having the weekly meetings with my classmates anymore. While I was excited about the future, at the same time I did not know what to do next. This week it hit me rather hard I was experiencing the weight of waiting, and frankly I wasn’t too thrilled with the encounter.

I thought of persons I admire who went down the same road I am presently on and how they got through it: I thought of John Gray, first seeing him as a comedian that opened for Israel Houghton & New Breed, and how he stepped out and is now associate pastor of Lakewood Church. What if he stayed being a comedian and never moved forward? I believe he prepared for the greater, trusting God in the process, and now hosts the television program John Gray World.

Singer Jason Crabb, who stepped out on his own after singing years with his family, now a published author. He too waited, but moved when God’s time was right.

Steven Furtick knowing he was to start a church, moved to Charlotte with seven other families begin the greater work, writing a book called Greater that speaks of  what he went through, and now has one of the fastest growing churches in the country.

Author and speaker John Bevere, who was told by a teacher he was one of the worst writers he had ever read. That could have crushed him and possibly weighted him down, but  years later he is a best-selling author with many books written.

I noticed a common thread of these people:

• they prepared.
• they persevered.
• they did not allow the weight of waiting to permanently bring them down.
• when the time was right, they moved into the greater.

So what does that mean for me and you?

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Psalm 62:5

Be strengthenized, as I continue this thought in future writings…