Embracing the Wait: Finding Peace in Uncertainty

Have you ever found yourself eagerly anticipating the end of a long journey, only to be met with an unexpected delay?

Saturday started at 4 am in Budapest, with two flights spanning a total of 15 hours. After finally landing at 7 pm, we then sat on the tarmac for an additional 2 1/2 hours because no gates were available. This felt like a fitting analogy for the recent seasons of my life. We often embark on a journey, investing time, energy, and money to reach a milestone, only to find ourselves stuck, waiting for the next step.

It’s one thing to know how long you’ll be waiting, but when the duration is unknown, it’s hard to decide how to fill that time. Should I pull out my iPad again (which I had excitedly put away when we touched down)? Make a phone call (as my row mate did—call after call)? Or do something else entirely? In the end, I decided to close my eyes and rest. I couldn’t relax enough to fall asleep given the uncertainty, but I did surrender to the fact that being anxious and frustrated wouldn’t help matters.

Does this resonate with you? Have you worked hard and long to get to a place where you expected a certain outcome, only to find yourself waiting? What do you do while waiting for a gate to open up? 

Life often mirrors this experience. We reach what we believe is the end of our journey, expecting to step seamlessly into the next phase. Instead, we find ourselves in a holding pattern, unsure of what to do next. The uncertainty can be unnerving, but it's also an opportunity to pause and reflect.

In these moments, it’s important to find peace in the uncertainty. Instead of letting frustration take over, try to embrace the pause. Use it as a time to recharge, even if you can’t fully relax. Accept that some things are beyond your control and that the gate will open when the time is right. Until then, find solace in the fact that you’ve made it this far and that the wait is just a part of the journey.

So, next time you find yourself stuck on the tarmac of life, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and surrender to the wait. You may not be able to change the situation, but you can change how you respond to it.