This morning, I drove home from a basketball game in misty gray rain and stopped at a railroad crossing. The red lights flashed, and the two crossbars came down in front of me. And I waited.

And waited.

I didn’t see a train coming, nor did I hear one. I waited for a full minute, watching the cars across from the tracks to see what they would do. Should I keep waiting? Could there be some malfunction? We were out on a little country road on a peaceful Saturday, all waiting.

I was afraid to disobey the cross signal, so I waited quietly…while another minute passed.

And then I heard the train. A whistle, then a chugging sound. Within a few more seconds, a long train passed right in front of me, freight car after heavy freight car.

I was glad I’d waited. Then of course, the light stopped flashing, and the crossbars went back up. And I crossed safely to the other side of the tracks.

This reminded me of how I feel in life somtimes. I get so impatient! I don’t want to wait. I want to hurry across the tracks, get to where God wants me to go, start something new. But I can’t see around the bend. Only God can. His timing is perfect, and He wants to keep me safe. Only when I wait will I understand His timing.

Do you feel like you’re stuck waiting on something? Hang in there. You can’t see around the bend, but God can. And He’s got something wonderful in store for you — if you’ll trust Him while you wait.

My kids and I used to watch Mr. Rogers when they were younger, and he liked to sing, “Let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting.” What can we do? The author of Psalm 130:5 wrote, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”