Lightening flashed in the dark window and the rain started to pour. Stuart and I counted the seconds until the thunder boomed in the distance. One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three-one thousand, four one-thousand, five-one thousand.

“That one was about a mile away,” Stuart said as we lay in the dark.

I smiled. “I love thunderstorms.”

“Me too,” he replied.

Lightening flashed again as we snuggled up close in anticipation of the storm. The remnants of tropical storm Pamela were upon us, and a cold front was headed our way this October night. As a kid I recall many October nights such as this waiting in anticipation for a blast of cooler air to make its entrance in blessed relief from the long, hot summer.  Fall has always held a sort of magic for me. Here in south-central Texas, summers are long and miserably hot. Waiting for the first cold front of the season can feel like waiting for a snail to cross the sidewalk. September comes and the rest of the country experiences leaves changing colors and “jacket weather”, while here, we continue to swelter in our shorts as our A/C’s attempt to keep up with the 90-degree heat.

But perhaps there is something to be learned in the waiting. I have been studying the covenants of the Bible—promises God made to His people to shower them with His love and grace. Abraham was promised a son from whom would come a great nation of people, and yet waited until his wife was 100 years old to conceive his promised son Isaac. Moses was promised that he would lead the Israelites to the promise land, and yet the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before seeing the promise land. David was promised that he would be crowned king of Israel, and yet again, he waited until God’s timing was perfect. It seems that sometimes it’s the waiting that makes the thing we are waiting for so special.

The thing about God is that He is always faithful. In the waiting we learn to trust. The patriarchs waited in faith, believing that God would fulfill His promises, and He did.  And when the storm comes, we can be assured that the blast of cooler weather is on the other side, that there will be relief from scorching pain that can sometimes be our lives. Whatever hardship you’re experiencing, be assured that God loves you and holds your well-being in His heart. After all, He created falls-with cooler temperatures, and a brilliant display of color, reminding us of His creativity and beauty. He created pumpkins and pumpkin spice, warm cookies, and soup. And He created you. Today I am thankful for the waiting because it means God is working on something amazing! And I’m grateful for His everlasting grace and love. Take time to enjoy the season! It is His gift to you!