the waiting room.

In our society, we don't really like to wait.  That's probably even a nice way of putting it.  We kinda hate it.  We want fast food, instant access, express check out.  Hurry up, let's go, serve me.  Not only do we not enjoy waiting, it's difficult for us to even sit still.  To sit alone in our thoughts.  Perhaps even sitting alone with God.  Even in our moments of "waiting", we seem to have the need to fidget around on our iPhones or iPads.  To honk our horn if the car in front of us doesn't hit the accelerator within .02 seconds of the light turning green.  A thirty second commercial on Hulu feels like minutes.  Rush, rush, rush.  

And time is oh so funny.  When you want the time to slow down, it seems to speed up.  When you are waiting on something, the second hand on the clock cannot rotate fast enough.  Tick tock.  Tick tock.  

I find myself in this space of feeling like I am in-between something.  Waiting for answers.  Wondering about the future.  Figuring out next steps.  Trusting in His ultimate plan.  We tend to feel uneasy when we don't know all the answers.  But by His grace, there is good news.

Jesus said in John 5:17, “My Father is always at his work".  God has been constantly reminding me that He works all things for the good of those who love Him.  That doesn't mean we will have all the answers at all times, but this is exactly where our faith comes in.  No matter where you may find yourself in life, you can trust that He is there and is working on your behalf.  Max Lucado puts it this way:

"While you wait, God works.  You can be glad because God is good.  You can be still because He is active.  You can rest because He is busy.  To wait, Biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, worry, fret, make demands, or take control.  Nor is waiting an inactivity.  Waiting is a sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief.  To wait is to 'rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; ... not fret.'"

I love that.  Waiting is not an inactivity.  It is actively trusting in Him.  And you better believe I have another song for you!  Check it out here, but I specifically love these lyrics.

Lord, today You know what I need to do,

But You can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do.

So I won't run anymore.

I'm waiting on You.

He can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do.  I'm sure you've heard the verse, "Be still and know that I am God."  The Hebrew word rapa, translated “be still” in this verse means “to slacken, let down, or cease.”.  If you take a look at this word in the context of the Psalm - speaking about God’s people in the midst of a war - it means to “stop fighting.”  Surrender the fight to God. Rather than trying to win the battle on our own, we must look to the Lord for help.  Stop running, stop fighting, and wait.

We can trust in the promises of God.  If you are waiting, have hope.  The Lord is good.  He will renew your strength.  He waits to be gracious to you.  He is your help and your shield.  He hears you.  See below:

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." Lamentations 3:25

"But they who wait for 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

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." Isaiah 30:18

"Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7

Literally, in a waiting room.  She told me, "I can't Momma.  I can't do this." Oh, sweetie... yes you can!  And, I am with you.