Principal's Ponderings

Waiting For The World To Change

I remember this titled song by John Mayer, ‘Waiting For The World To Change.’ A smooth song by Mayer in 2006, illustrating the frustration of just ‘waiting’ on things needing to change in our world. Eighteen years on we are still, sadly, waiting for change. Just waiting. 

But what if us just waiting is causing change not to happen?

I remember the time I shifted my understanding that waiting can be a blessing, more than the actual problem. 

It was at a grocery store when I was in a huge rush, my mind and patience were gone, and I had to take a good hard look at my thinking because it was pressured to overdrive. I remember the realisation, waiting allows for calm. Calm is more productive than rushing. Rushing only allows us to do the task before us, it arguably keeps us busy, not able to think carefully and act out change. 

I am reminded of the profound journey of faith that each of us is on—a journey not unlike that of our forefather Abraham, described in Romans 4. Our days, much like his, are filled with waiting; not passive, but charged with anticipation and action.

Consider the time of an engagement of a couple, a period filled with expectation and preparation for the wedding day. Just as an engaged couple does not simply wait idly for their marriage ceremony but actively prepares—selecting the venue, planning the service, organising the guest list, arranging entertainment and choosing suits and dresses—so too is our waiting on God. It is a period rich with purpose and preparation, not a passive interlude but a dynamic time of doing and living.

In his wisdom, Paul Tripp once noted, 'Mercy means I am so deeply grateful for the forgiveness I have received that I cannot help offering you the same.' This statement resonates deeply within our school's heart, where mercy and forgiveness are not just taught, but lived out daily.

'Waiting on God,' as Tripp eloquently puts it, 'doesn’t mean sitting around and hoping.' It is an active, vibrant faith. 'Waiting means believing He will do what He’s promised and then acting with confidence.' This is not the idle waiting one might experience in a mundane setting, like a waiting room for an appointment. Instead, it is a dynamic and purposeful waiting that compels us to action.

Our Lord’s timing is perfect, and His plans are sure. In the 'already' and 'not yet' of our lives, we find ourselves uniquely positioned to serve, love and contribute meaningfully to our community and beyond. Each day is an opportunity to embody the love of Christ, to reach out in kindness and to build up one another in faith and patience.

'Waiting on God is internal rest that results in courageous action,' Tripp reminds us. This rest is not a cessation of activity but a deep, spiritual preparation for what is to come. In our classrooms, on our sports fields and in our daily interactions, let us wait actively. Let us teach with hope, coach with perseverance and interact with the assurance that comes from knowing Jesus.

We are all participants in God's grand redemptive story, waiting for the ultimate fulfillment of His promises. Yet, as we wait, we do so with purpose. 'Waiting is your calling. Waiting is your blessing,' as stated by Tripp. Every lesson taught, every act of kindness and every challenge overcome is part of our faithful service to a mission much greater than ourselves.

So, dear Devonport community and friends, let us wait not as those without hope, but as those who are assured of the faithfulness of our Savior. Let us be inspired by the certainty that 'what God has begun, He will complete.' Our work, our love and our service are never in vain—they are the very expressions of our faith in the God who knows all and holds our situations in His capable hands. They can create and act change in a world that is needed. 

As we continue this school year in Term Two, let our waiting be active. Let our love be abundant. Let our lives reflect the deep trust we have in Jesus, who guides us through every moment of waiting with unwavering love and perfect wisdom.

Let us stop waiting on the world to change, and start ‘being’ the change. 

Chad Smit | Principal