It has been said that we spend approximately 6 months of our life waiting in line for things. This is when we physically wait, whether it’s for transportation (airplane or bus), the bathroom, the doctor, in traffic, on the phone or for someone to be ready. There is also plenty of time in our life when we wait mentally and emotionally but still move on with our lives. Examples of this are when we wait to get a grade on a test or paper, for an answer after a job interview, an offer on a house, etc.
None of us like to wait. Whether it’s physically and creates frustration because we want to be done with whatever we are doing, get where we want to go, not be late or waste time or whether it’s mentally and emotionally so we don’t get anxious, scared and fear the worst. I think waiting in today’s day and age is even tougher because now with cell phones and social media, the goal is not to have to wait to get information or an answer. However, waiting is a part of life and waiting is a theme for God’s children. Before you read any further I would encourage you to read the link below. Paul Tripp really puts into perspective why we wait as God’s children.
Paul Tripp Wednesday’s Word for 1/24/18
One reality of college applications is that seniors will have to wait to receive a decision. This can be a difficult time because they have worked tremendously hard up to this point in their life. They have completed the application and all that the admission office’s require in order to apply and more. Now they have to wait weeks or months to receive a decision that will impact their future. It’s not easy but it’s what we have to do. Below are four things that you can do while you wait for an admissions decision.
- Keep the door open– I always tell seniors, until you send in that enrollment deposit to a college you decide to attend, do not close the door on applying to any more schools. God’s timing is best…not ours. He may bring to your attention or open the door to a school that you were not considering before and you need to be receptive to that. Now, I am not saying apply to 10 more colleges, but applying to one or two more may be a possibility.
- Keep taking care of the here and now– One of the toughest things about college decisions is that you are not in control. Someone you don’t know or met briefly is making the decision. You shouldn’t get too worried or anxious because it is ultimately in God’s hands. What you are asked to do is your best at the tasks, assignments, responsibilities you are given now. If you do this, God will ultimately use you and the gifts and abilities he’s given you in amazing ways. Sometimes that takes running into some dead ends and moving in a different direction but as long as you persevere and persist through today’s challenges, you will be fine!
- Keep looking for scholarships- While you wait, there are more than enough opportunities to be applying for scholarships. Make sure you have taken advantage and know of all of the incoming freshman scholarships at the colleges you applied to and once January roles around, there are number of private, local and national scholarship deadlines approaching in the spring. Check with your local township, businesses, etc. and visit websites like Sallie Mae, Fastweb and Scholarships.com. I list all of the scholarships in Naviance that come through my office under the COLLEGES tab and Scholarship List.
- Surround everything in prayer– While we wait we should be on our knees in prayer giving control of our future up to God and not depending on ourselves. Prayer, along with staying in God’s Word, will help us have the proper perspective. I like the way Paul Tripp end’s his devotional above by saying:
“Remind yourself that waiting is biblical, that waiting is beautiful, and that the God who calls you to wait is loving. Waiting is changing you, and it’s also helping you to be a tool of change in others who are waiting. Find joy in that wait!”