Three years. That’s how long I prayed to become a mommy, and it felt like such a long time waiting.

I recall sitting and praying in the room that is now the nursery. I kept a journal, and one day when hope was fading, I went back through the journal and circled all the prayer requests that I had listed that had been answered. There were so many! God affirmed to me that day that my prayer would be answered. Little did I know at that very moment, it had already been answered. I would find out just short time later that I was pregnant.

Now, I find myself praying for something else. (Isn’t there always something?) It feels like I have been praying for some time – and again – it feels like I’m waiting forever. Obstacles seem to pop up that just weren’t expected. I found myself starting to lose hope, so I cried out to the Lord one night. The next day, in my Facebook memories, it showed that it was the 3 year anniversary since we announced I was pregnant. My prayers have now been answered for as long as prayed. God reminded me, once again, that He answers prayer… and it may even have already been answered and I’m not even aware.

Waiting can be so hard! It seems that time went so slowly while I was waiting, but sped up once the answer came. I am so thankful for a God that hears us, has compassion on us, and carries us when we feel like giving up. One of the verses that I hold close to my heart while I’m waiting for things is Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (NIV).

One definition lists sustain as to “cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period or without interruption” (dictionary.com). I have played the piano for 25 years, so my mind goes to the sustain pedal. If you just hit the key on the piano, the sound will dissipate within a few seconds, but when you hold the sustain pedal down, the note holds out much longer. It’s comforting to know that while we may last a short bit on our own, with holding on to God, He sustains us and makes our waiting something beautiful. We don’t have to hold things down on our own. He will carry us while we wait; until it’s time to move to the next note.