By Elicipha Njuguna
What if the life you keep waiting for is already happening?
“I’ll be happy when I get married.”
“I’ll enjoy life when I have a child.”
“Things will be better when I get a new job.”
“I’ll finally breathe when I graduate.”
“I’ll have time for myself when I finish this course.”
“I’ll feel fulfilled when I finally write my book.”
How often do we say these things without realizing that we are putting our lives on hold?
Sometimes, we treat today like a waiting room while we wait for our “real life” to begin. We keep looking ahead, believing that happiness, fulfilment, rest and purpose are somewhere in the future.
And so, we endure today instead of purposefully living and enjoying the process.
The psychology of “when…”
There is nothing wrong with having dreams. Marriage, children, a new job, graduation, financial stability or publishing a book can all be meaningful goals.
The problem begins when we make our happiness dependent on achieving them.
When we repeatedly tell ourselves, “I will be happy when…”, we can unintentionally teach ourselves that where we are now is not enough.
And when the desired milestone finally arrives, another “when” can quickly take its place.
When I earn more.
When I get promoted.
When I buy a house.
When I reach the next level.
The finish line keeps moving.
The question is not whether we should have goals. It is:
Can I pursue tomorrow without abandoning today?
Faith reminds us that today matters
Jesus said: “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” — Matthew 6:34
Sometimes, we become so focused on what God has not yet done that we overlook what He is doing right now.
We are waiting for marriage, yet there are relationships to nurture.
We are waiting for a new job, yet there are skills to develop and opportunities to serve.
We are waiting to graduate, yet there are lessons to learn.
We are waiting to finish a course, yet there is growth happening in the process.
We are waiting to write the book, yet the experiences we are living today may become the very material that fills its pages tomorrow.
The waiting season is not necessarily wasted time.
Perhaps the season you are in is not an interruption to your life. Perhaps it is part of your life.
Contentment is not complacency
Being present does not mean giving up on your dreams.
You can desire marriage and still live meaningfully today.
You can want children and still experience love and purpose now.
You can desire a new job and still honour where you are.
You can look forward to graduation while appreciating the journey of learning.
You can dream about publishing a book while celebrating the page you write today.
You can pray for tomorrow without refusing to live today.
There is a difference between hopeful anticipation and putting your life on hold.
Hope says, “I look forward to what is coming.”
Postponement says, “I cannot fully live until it comes.”
Don’t miss today while waiting for tomorrow
One day, today will become yesterday.
The season you are rushing through may become the season you wish you had appreciated more.
Life is not only found in major milestones. It is also found in ordinary Tuesdays, conversations over tea, laughter with friends, prayer before sunrise, small victories, unfinished assignments and moments of becoming.
Perhaps God is not only present at the destination.
He is present in the journey.
So, before you rush through today to get to tomorrow, pause.
Look around.
There is a life happening here.
This is not merely the waiting room. This is your life.
You can desire what is next while still receiving what is here.
You can work toward tomorrow without withholding joy from today.
And perhaps the invitation is not to stop waiting, but to stop putting your life on hold while you wait.
Reflection
What have you been telling yourself you will finally enjoy, become or celebrate “when…”? What would it look like to start living and appreciating today while trusting God with tomorrow?
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