In the Waiting Room

In many ways, I feel like most of my life I have been waiting for something. 

Waiting for that grade.

Waiting to graduate from high school and college.

Waiting for a plan for my life. 

Waiting for a significant other.

Waiting for God to provide.

Ultimately, I'm either waiting for a season to come to pass or to come to fruition, or I'm waiting for God to provide.

Just when one season of waiting passes, another season arrives. 

I'm in a season of waiting in many ways right now, and I didn't realize this until sitting in the waiting room of an Orthopedic Urgent Care Center. Don't worry, I'm fine. The person I was waiting for is okay too. But waiting in the waiting room made me think. 

Waiting is a verb, which means that it is an action. I don't often think of waiting as an action, but I'm learning more and more that this is the case. It takes energy to wait. 

The Bible is filled with instances of people waiting on the Lord. 

Abraham had to wait for a son. 

Jacob had to for Rachel. 

Rachel had to wait for God to remember her.

Israel had to wait for God to set her free from Egypt. 

Jews had to wait for the Messiah. 

Jesus had to wait for his time. 

The Church is waiting for Jesus to return and for eternity with the Bridegroom. 

But waiting does not mean sitting without action. It doesn't mean doing nothing. It means preparation and work in anticipation of what you're waiting for. 

That acknowledges the questions: what am I waiting for? And what am I doing while I wait? But ultimately, who is my hope in?

I'm still pondering these questions, but I've been encouraged by different passages of scripture while God works this out in my heart. And I thought I would share them with you. 

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Psalms 130:5-6

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalms 27:13-14

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

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

Whoever you are, in whatever season of life the Lord has you waiting: Be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord, because He is good.