Waiting On God

Are you waiting on God to answer a prayer or move in your life? Sometimes it feels like we are always waiting to see God in our lives. So while you are in God's Waiting Room, here are some practical and helpful things to do.

This past year I have spent a lot of time in God’s waiting room. Waiting for Him to move in certain areas of my life. Waiting for a word from Him. Waiting for healing. Waiting for an answer to prayer. Waiting… waiting… waiting!  If I could really see what God’s waiting room looked like I bet it would be filled to overflowing. Maybe I would have bumped into you there too! Let’s talk about waiting on God!

If truth be told, I should probably take up permanent resident in God’s waiting room. Maybe bring in a cot and a suitcase of things I need. Seems over the years I have been in a state of waiting for God to answer prayer over and over and over!

I recently had one of those “lightbulb” moments.

You know, when a fact hits you right in the face. EUREKA!

Maybe I’m in God’s waiting room so much because I’ve become so dependent on Him. Maybe I don’t want to handle some of the curve balls life has thrown at me and those I love by myself. Maybe I’m a little tired and just need a heavenly shoulder to lean on!

Yes, I find myself leaning on God much more than I used to. And here is what I have found. The closer I lean into God the more peace I have! The stronger I feel.

The more I lean on Him the more I rely on Him! I find strength and comfort and peace in God’s waiting room!

Life is easier!!!! Much easier!!!  I’m more patient and accepting of waiting. Because I am so strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit in me.

My circumstances have not changed but God has changed me!

Let me say that again… my circumstances have not changed but God has changed ME!

And I am blessed by it!

The last five years have been quite hard and stressful! But they were not without the most amazing blessings and joy as well. Sometimes when we are shoved by life’s hard knocks into God’s waiting room our vision can be obscured. The pain we are living in washes over us and blots out all the beauty and wonder and miracles God blesses us with while we are waiting!

Here are a few things that have really helped while in God’s waiting room. Maybe they will help you too!

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

Talk to God and bring it ALL to Him. He knows everything anyway so you might as well be transparent! God tells us…

LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND TO FIND GRACE TO HELP IN OUR TIME OF NEED. Hebrews 4:16

Get yourself and your needs on every prayer list so prayer warriors will be praying for you too! We have an army of prayer warriors who are so eager and happy to pray for us! All you need to do is ask.

PRAY BELIEVING GOD CAN DO IT!

I think one of the best things I ever learned about prayer is that God can do anything! But He will answer your prayers in a way that is best! He sees far beyond our moment and is working things out for our good and His glory! Know that God is sovereign and we must learn to bow our knee to His perfect Kingship! 

God is for you and not against you! He wants and will do what is best for you!

FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU” DECLARED THE LORD, “PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE  AND A FUTURE”. Jeremiah 29:11

PRAY AND WAIT EXPECTANTLY

You don’t need to sit in God’s waiting room like a sad lump! You can be proactive! Look for the way God is moving in your life! Look for blessings and good in any and all ways! I love the following verse…

IN THE MORNING LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE, IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU AND WAIT EXPECTANTLY. Psalm 5:3

The word “expectantly” means to be a watchman. A watchman was someone who would be positioned on one of the high towers on the wall of a city in ancient times. His job was to watch, intently watch. One of the things he would watch for was a rider coming from afar with a message from the king. Day and night a watchman would be posted on the high tower. And day and night that watchman would watch expecting to see the rider coming from the king!

Are you watching for your answer?

WITH GOD’S HELP RESOLVE IN YOUR HEART TO LIVE AT PEACE IN ANY SITUATION

The word peace is “shalom”. Far different from our word peace as modern Greek thinkers. Shalom carries the idea of being perfectly whole. Whole in body, mind, and spirit. It means perfect wholeness in relationships and finance and health. Wholeness in all realms of our lives! 

Although we are not really completely whole yet we are to live to the best of our ability in God’s shalom! We are to determine not to let our circumstances break us! Sometimes in God’s waiting room, I felt as though I was sitting in God’s lap! It was the only place of peace! 

That does not mean we cannot grieve and feel loss. God grieves with us too! But we must resolve to not let our situation overcome us. As long as we are breathing, God wants us to go on living. Go on working in this word on His behalf. Now, is not the time to give up, no matter what! God wants shalom to permeate our lives!

I have received the promise of this verse many times…

“BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD: AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.” Philippians 4:6-7

Staying close to God and leaning on Him while you are in the midst of tribulation is all about being in constant contact with Him. When you are in His waiting room PRAY!

And when your answer comes, give thanks! God WILL answer prayer. And probably not in the way you expect. But you can know this for sure, He will answer it for your best good and to show His glory! I like how the Amplified Bible explains this…

FOR NOW, WE ARE LOOKING IN A MIRROR THAT GIVES ONLY A DIM (BLURRED) REFLECTION (OF REALITY AS IN A RIDDLE OR ENIGMA), BUT THEN (WHEN PERFECTION COMES) WE SHALL SEE IN REALITY AND FACE TO FACE! NOW I KNOW IN PART (IMPERFECTLY), BUT THEN I SHALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND FULLY AND CLEARLY, EVEN IN THE SAME MANNER AS I HAVE BEEN FULLY AND CLEARLY KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD (BY GOD).

And if you are in God’s waiting room please reach out to me and ask me to pray for you! I can’t think of a better use of my waiting time!

Here is a great verse to live by when you are in the waiting room.

IN THE MORNING LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE, IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU AND WAIT EXPECTANTLY. Psalm 5:3