While Waiting: Cry

Notes: This is the second post in our series of practical things for when God sends you through a period of waiting. <>< Katie

Cry

It’s ok to cry. Really, it is. Transitioning is stressful. It’s scary. It’s ok.

Your friends are there to loan a shoulder during times like this.

Practical Tip: Be honest.

When current college students ask me about post-grad life, I tell them the brutal truth: it sucks.

Someday they’re going to graduate and join the ranks of the real world (whatever that means). I want them to know what’s coming. When they get here, I don’t want them to remember my fake smile.

Your family and friends probably won’t know how to support you. You’ll hear a lot of the same encouragement clichés about how God has a better plan or it just wasn’t meant to be.

Be polite even if you don’t want to hear them again.

Transparency is so important in life. People can’t help if you don’t tell them what you’re going through. Patiently and honestly telling (and retelling) about your struggles also is networking. Don’t use people, get your hopes up, or expect a job to pop out of your cup of coffee, but also realize that you just never know.

Someone may know someone who knows someone who needs someone with your skill set.

When you’re honest, you’ll also get some crazy ides of job suggestions. My favorites, after telling people that I have a degree in English (and Spanish): join the military or be a music critic.

Practical Tip: Cry to the Lord.

Go get a piece of printer paper, a pen, and some markers. Yup, right now. As soon as you’ve read the instructions, go somewhere private and carry them out.

Take a pen (or pencil) and cry out to the Lord on paper. Explain to Him how you’re feeling and why. Leave out no details. Write down the ugly. God can handle your anger, your frustration, and your unfriendly words. He’s a big boy.

Mine hangs above my desk.

Don’t stop until you’ve said everything you can, even if it means you need more paper, even if it means your wrist hurts.

Over your pen-prayer, use the markers to write names and attributes of God that you’ve seen. As God reveals Himself to you further, add those attributes and names too.

Hang this in a place where you can see it and add to it often.

Other posts in the While Waiting series:
Remember
Keep Busy
Don’t Give Up

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