A few days ago I found myself sitting in the hospital waiting room while my husband had angioplasty. I wondered to myself, ‘how did we get here, surely we are not old enough to need this’. But low and behold we are old enough, mortality sets in and you have to think about issues that you don’t really want to.
As I was sitting there I thought about times when I’ve been in God’s waiting room wondering how I got there. What did I do wrong, have I not been paying attention, am I not reading His Word enough, am I not praying enough, and on and on my head racing to find the answer as to why I’m there.
As the doctor went over the usual questions with my husband, blood pressure, diet, exercise, drinking, smoking he said, ‘well genetics’ is what is playing out here. My thoughts were, ‘well great, if he was doing something wrong it would be easier to keep it from happening again’. Ever thought about it that way, just wanting the doctor to tell you what you are doing wrong so you could stop it? Not having to take such drastic measures for correction.
It’s like that in God’s waiting room for me. I want God to just tell me what I’m doing wrong so I can stop it. But often times it’s genetics (surely it’s my parents fault, ha!). While spending time in His waiting room He’s developing qualities in me that simply cannot be developed any other way.
The doctor said that my husband would have more energy after the procedure because he would be getting more oxygen in his blood. In God’s waiting room He’s making me more like Him, He’s getting the ‘plaque’ out of my life so I am more focused and have more energy for Him.
It’s a funny thing, that as I sit in the waiting room I have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. I have to trust someone I just met with a life I want to keep. I have no choice here, I have to trust someone I don’t know.
As I sit in God’s waiting room I can’t see what’s happening. I have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. (Ephesians 6:12: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJ) I have no choice but to trust God. Unlike the doctor whom I just met, I know God and I know I can trust Him. Even if I didn’t know Him very well I could trust Him.
The doctor has come to the waiting room – the damage is worse than we thought. As we talk I learn just how much the doctor knows about what he’s doing, he graciously responds to all my questions. He tells me I will return to the waiting room in a few weeks.
God is like that doctor graciously responding to me. He never yells at me but quietly whispers. He doesn’t hit me over the head with a two by four, although sometimes I think I would pay more attention if He did. He’s never told me my questions are stupid and He never uses words I can’t understand.
When I return to the waiting room in a few weeks I will have more peace and be able to trust the doctor more because I know him better. Each time I leave God’s waiting room I know Him more intimately. When He says I need to return I can be more confident He knows what He’s doing.
The process of waiting is a God-ordained experience that He uses to prepare us for what He has in store for our future. Recall a time you were in God’s waiting room. What did you learn about yourself there? What new thing did you learn about God? What do you see now that you didn’t see before the ‘waiting room’ experience?
Rhoda is a pastor's wife of 30 years, certified life purpose coach with Life Purpose Coaching Centers, Intl. and American Association of Christian Counselors and works with at-risk middle and high school students in her community.
Rhoda and husband Larry, of 35 years, lives in Snohomish, WA and has two grown daughters and 6 grandchildren with the 7th on the way.
All of Rhoda's written articles are of her own life experiences. She is energized by helping women see and move forward in their God given purpose to enjoy an abundant life.