Living in the Waiting Room

Have you ever had to wait on something or someone? Waiting, seems to be something that does not come natural for humans. Having found myself in places where one must wait, I have taken note of how some people spend their time as they wait. Some bring a book, or a Kindle. Some work crossword puzzles or word-search magazines. Some read whatever magazine may be found nearby. Many talk unceasingly on their cell phones. What appears to me be a sizeable group, are those who just sit and do nothing. No reading, no calls made, just sitting and waiting, usually in a half a sleep stupor.

There is nothing we can do about waiting. It is a part of the natural flow of life. In the life of the Christian there are most assuredly times of waiting. Allow me to share my observation about people waiting: some are passive and some are active. Active waiters keep doing something while they wait. Passive waiters just sit!

I think you can make the application, how do we wait on the Lord? Are we passive or active? Waiting just seems to be a passive activity. I am just going to sit here and wait on the Lord. Waiting for direction from the Lord involves an active participation and we are encouraged in the Bible to be active waiters.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Waiting for the Lord does not sap our strength, but rather gives us strength. Waiting on the Lord serves as a reminder that we need more than human strength. We come to understand that I need God’s power to flow through me, in order to stand and be all that God wants me to be.

Do you need strength? Do you need an answer from the Lord? Have you tried waiting on Him? I did not say giving up, I said waiting?   What should we do while waiting? Read the Bible and pray certainly come to mind and should be done while waiting. How about seeking out godly counsel? Find someone in whom you have confidence in their walk with the Lord and ask them to pray for you, and share from their life, lessons that would be helpful to you. Spend time reviewing where you are in your life. How have you seen God at work in your life in recent days? Remember times in the past when you knew that God had helped you with something, this will give you confidence that God is going to see you through the situation you are in today. Read great devotional literature, and spend some time in quietness with the Lord.

Talk with Christians who have walked with the Lord, turn the television off, and read and pray. Again, see waiting as an active time in your life to seek God. Do not see it as a time to give up or back off from your commitment to Christ.