It’s hard to wait, isn’t it?
Even when you have a strong faith.
Even when you trust God.
Even when you know and believe God’s promises.
It’s just plain hard. I know, I’ve done my fair share of waiting over the years. I’ve waited on life or death situations, for physical and emotional healing, for relationships to mend, for marriages to restore, and for suffering to end. I’ve grappled, reasoned, bargained, begged, and pleaded with God as I waited, hoped, and prayed.
You may be worn out and weary of waiting…
for something, or someone, to change,
for circumstances to get better,
for a solution to a family issue,
for the doctor’s diagnosis,
for the next paycheck to come.
Or maybe you’re simply waiting…
to fit in,
to make friends,
to feel at home,
to be included,
to be accepted,
to just be visable.
We don’t understand why it takes so long for all the pieces of life to come together again, or the answers we want to come. Trust me, I know from experience the pieces of life will come together—in God’s perfect timing, not ours. The answer will come—God’s answer, although it may not always be the answer we want.
Above all else, trust our sovereign God. He is faithful in all things—always, forever, and no matter what. Even if you don’t understand at the time or get what in the heck He’s doing.
This much I do know. It’s during the waiting – during the space between the now and then – that much is learned. God’s waiting room is not a bad place to be. When I am waiting, He takes me to a deeper level of trusting Him. I hang out in His word and hang on to His promises. He brings me to a point where I have to let go of all my expectations and wants and cling only to Him.
He teaches me a whole lot about patience, and about what I can control and what I can’t. So many times in my impatience I try to run ahead of God to fix, change, manage, plan or orchestrate the results I want, rather than waiting on Him. I short-circuit what God is going to do by doing what I think is best. He is all-knowing and His ways are not my ways.
I’ve learned that at the end of myself and my striving, is the beginning of a deeper yearning for Him.
Only God can redeem the word wait.
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be astounded.
They will put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40: 1-3
Are you presently in God’s waiting room? Oh my goodness, don’t just sit there! You’ll end up in the pit of despair. Instead…
Wait actively. Get up, and get out. Take a walk, meet a friend for coffee, volunteer for something, get involved with God’s people, go to the gym, join a Bible Study, plant flowers, work on a project, participate in an activity–whatever you can do to keep your mind, body, and emotions healthy.
Wait with your eyes focused on Jesus, not on your circumstances. It’s so natural for your circumstances to be all-consuming and all you think about. Believe me, that’s not going to change a thing. Try changing your focus to consume Jesus. Focus on His promises in scripture, listen to praise and worship music, read the Book of Psalms in the Bible (I love the New Living Translation), read a devotion to start your day, or listen to a Christ-centered message on a podcast. Focus on your blessings, not your hardships. Be grateful, not resentful. Focus on praying, not complaining.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong, and let your heart
take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
Be encouraged as you wait. You are not alone.
There are many of us waiting right there with you…
From My Heart to Yours,
Trina says
July 10, 2017 at 4:49 pmI’m going to print this off & post it on my waiting room ( also home ) mirror …bloom where you are planted but I love your wise reminders in this post ……xoxoxo
Diann says
July 11, 2017 at 10:19 amBeautiful, Susan
Susan says
July 13, 2017 at 6:33 amI needed this today. My parents and other extended family members have chosen to believe lies about me and my husband. We have tried and tried to reconcile biblically, but they will not budge. As you can imagine, this has devastated me. The Lord has been teaching me to cling (and I mean CLING) to HIM alone. Some days, like today, are very difficult. So thank you for this truth and encouragement!
Paige says
July 23, 2017 at 5:19 amHello Susan. I am in a similar place where my husband and I have friends that are unwilling to reconcile. It all started when they became convinced that he wasn’t a believer. It is devastating.
We too are clinging to the Lord. I am so thankful that you are as well. Our feelings and emotions come in waves. One day sadness, another anger. Yesterday, a longing for God honoring restoration and peace. But it is out of our control now.
These friends were like family because they were all we had.
I am so sorry for your pain. I will pray for you. You are not alone. God is with you and has a plan to bring beauty from ashes.
Betsy Hubner says
July 13, 2017 at 4:36 pmMy dear sister-in- law passed this on to me just when I needed it the most… thank you for helping me get through waiting with God’s grace!
Kathleen Parker says
July 13, 2017 at 5:01 pm“God’s waiting room is not a bad place to be.”
Absolutely true when I focus on who is in that room with me; my redeemer, my shepherd, my comforter, my peace,giver, my protector, my fortress, my savior, my guide, my all and all.
Thank you, Susan for sharing these refocusing words. May God continue to bless you and your ministry.
Melissa Henderson says
July 17, 2017 at 8:37 amThank you, Susan, for writing this article on waiting. We moved from Oregon to middle TN a year and a half ago, in obedience to God’s opening a ministry opportunity for my husband here. We both are Oregonians, born and raised, and never, in a million years, thought we’d move away from our family, friends, and church family. I was a self-employed hair stylist for 18 years, with a wonderful clientele, in a salon with other sisters in Christ, and it took months for me to get to that place of being willing to surrender it all to obey God in moving. I came expecting that God would open up a salon for me to work in and that it would all be obvious to me what He wanted for me, only to still not be employed. We have a son going into his senior year of high school next month, and a daughter entering high school, & I feel drawn to be available for them. I’m also blessed to be helping facilitate New to Nashville class at our church, twice a year, using your wonderful book and videos! Our finances, however, are extremely tight, and my husband’s church salary isn’t quite enough to cover all of our expenses. I am waiting on God to lead & direct our steps, whether I work (doing what, I’m not sure), or my husband getting an increase in salary. But God has been definitely speaking to me to wait & not try to go out & look for a job or make something happen. It gets very discouraging, at times, when our cars need tires and repairs, etc. Thank you for your encouraging words!!!
Roxane Albitz says
August 10, 2017 at 7:40 amToday I had the time to read this post on waiting. Susan you expressed in this article exactly the way I have felt as I have been in God’s waiting room. Waiting for answers is very hard and I have found as I wait that I am drawn into a deeper relationship with God. I have realized that sometimes the waiting for answers can take years. Just recently one of the answer that I have been waiting on for the last 4 1/2 years was finally answered. Therefore I will continue to spend time in God’s waiting room for answers to all of my other unanswered prayer because I know eventually God will say yes to the prayer or he will say no. When that time will be I do not know.