HOW TO RENEW YOUR HOPE DURING A LONG WAIT

Life can sometimes be unpredictable. We work, prepare for certain things and greatly anticipate them only for them to take “forever” to happen.

Even though no one likes waiting, it is apparent that waiting is a part of life. We wait at the stores for our turns with the cashier, we wait for the release of our test results, we wait for the arrival of our babies, a promotion, certain seasons in life and many others. I’m pretty sure everyone can relate with what it feels like to wait.

When what we expect comes at the time we expect it to, we are no longer worried by how long we had to wait. Take for instance, a pregnant mother anticipates the birth of her precious baby after nine months. Even though nine months feels like a long time, it is easier for her to wait because she understands how important every month is in the formation of her child. I haven’t seen a mother who would rather have her baby prematurely.

The game changes when the child goes past nine months and three weeks. At this point, the pregnancy feels like a weight/burden and the mother can hardly wait to get her child out. Then she either goes for an induced labour, or simply requests for a caesarean operation.

There are certain things in life that we can’t induce or lay under the surgeon’s knife to make happen. The only option for things like that is to wait. This is when waiting becomes truly challenging- knowing that something appears to have taken longer than usual and you can’t do anything about it. It is at this point that most people begin to lose hope, feel frustrated and some even seek an “easy way out of the wait” which is to end their lives in suicide.

Read: 7 shades of folly

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It is an optimistic attitude of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes related to events and circumstances in one’s life (wikipedia). The death of hope is usually as a result of prolonged wait. Hope is like the candle light in the midst of darkness. It lightens your heart and strengthens your weary eyes. You therefore need to keep hope alive. 

Read: Single at 25? what you should know

Here is how to do it.

1.        Revisit the worth of your expectation: 
What value would that occurrence bring into your life? How would you feel when you finally clinch that experience/expectation? Where do you see yourself after you finally clinch it? 
Like a mother finally beholds her baby after a long wait and forgets about the pain of travail, we soon forget the burden of waiting after the event or expectation. 
Painting a vivid picture of the end result will help boost your waiting energy. The often you do this, the better your chance at maintaining hope.

Read: 10 things I wish I knew 10 years ago

2.     Celebrate other areas of your life: While waiting for that one special thing to happen, you really should take stock of all the other beautiful things that are happening or have happened for you. List them out, brood over them  and yes, throw private parties for you, yourself and yours. Just relish the goodness that you already own. Doing this will help you refocus your mind from the wait to the feeling you will eventually have when your expectation happens. 

Read: How to gain satisfaction

3.     Do, Live, Act like you would have: Don’t allow one aspect of your life, rub you off the beauty you can make out of other areas of your life. Would you have owned a business, floated a non-governmental organization, a ministry or anything else? Go on, get it done!!! You will soon realize that you’ve achieved more than you would have if you waited passively. 
Hope is often fuelled by passion for something. Find something you’re passionate about and don’t be afraid to throw your weight into it. You will find the strength to wait for the other thing to happen.

Read: How to maximise the present

4.     Speak positively concerning it:  You don’t have to believe in religion to reap the harvest of tongues. The world was formed by the word which God spoke and God made man in his likeness, man has the capacity to create his world by the words of his own  mouth.  I understand that it seems impossible, but keep saying that which you want to see. Sooner or later, it will be happen.

Read: 6 Loose mouth types that could ruin your future & relationships

5.     Use other people’s victories:  What happens for others is confirmation that such a thing is possible. Therefore if it has happened for someone, it can happen for you too. Rather than focusing on how long it is taking, focus on the possibility that it can happen and will happen for you too. Celebrate those who have what you desire and fuel your hope with tales of their victories. Sooner or later, it will be your turn!

Read: why do loose girls marry faster? 

6.     Rest:  I wish I could tell you to hop on a flight to Paris, Dubai or my dream relaxation-go-to- nation, Mexico!!! Well, maybe you really should go give yourself some treat in those places if you can afford it. However, inasmuch as those places could relieve us of stress and some level of anxiety, the anxiety would most likely return once we come back to our original base. 
Therefore, rest from anxiety is beyond feeling the cool breeze of the beaches in Miami or Cancun, beyond the smooches and knudges of a masseuse in a spa. 
True rest is found in CHRIST JESUS. Jesus truly cares about our desires and He wants to exceed them. Perhaps you’re a believer, I will like to remind you that God authored your days and time in Christ. Therefore, He will perfect all that concerns you. Renew your hope in the unfailing love and word of God.

If you don’t believe in Jesus Christ yet, I encourage you to cast the weight/burdens of your life on Him by acknowledging him as Son of God, Confessing him as Lord and Saviour and placing your hope/trust in him.

Whatever it is you’re waiting for. RENEW YOUR HOPE!!!

Committed to your fulfilment

Anne Atulaegwu

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