God's Waiting Room

By Andrea Merrell

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

Nobody likes to wait. That’s a fact. But it’s also something we do on a regular, daily basis.

We sit in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. We wait in line at the grocery store, the bank, and the movie theater. We sit impatiently in our cars in the drive-thru lane at the fast food restaurant and in front of the school to drop off or pick up our kids. We anticipate the arrival of our first grandchild, thinking it will never happen. And we wait for promotions, paychecks, and much-needed vacations.

Life is all about waiting, but what about our walk with the Lord?

When we invite Jesus into our heart, He responds instantly. And there are many other times when the Lord answers our prayers before we even ask. But there are other times when the answer doesn’t manifest immediately, causing us to ask “Why, Lord?” Sometimes the answer is simply “wait.” But waiting is not always a bad thing. It might be that God needs to do a work in us before the answer can come.

This is how Merriam Webster Online defines wait: to remain stationary in readiness or expectation; to look forward expectantly; to be ready and available; to attend as a servant.

I have found myself in God’s waiting room many times, and not always with a good attitude. On numerous occasions, I’ve whined and complained about the answers to my prayers taking so long.

But I’ve learned over the years that God is at work even when we can’t see the results. He sees the big picture when all we see is a tiny portion. He knows the end from the beginning and everything in between. He has a plan and purpose and has promised to perfect everything that concerns us. He wants us to trust Him enough that when the answer doesn’t come immediately, we can be confident that He has the situation under control. There may even be a far greater blessing ahead that He has planned for us.

If you find yourself in God’s waiting room, don’t be discouraged. Spend time in His Word and thank Him in advance for the outcome. He might be preparing you for the biggest blessing of your life.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/smarnad)

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