Marriage from A to Z

What do you do when God says, “Wait?”

Are you in God’s waiting room?  If you have ever prayed and asked God for something and He answered yes, but not right now, you’re in the waiting room. Some of our prayers don’t get answered right away, it takes time.  For example;  I am waiting for a school and a scholarship to come through for one of my children, you might be waiting on a new job, your mate or something different to happen.  Many of us were taught that there are three answers to prayer, yes, no and wait.  The wait doesn’t feel good because there are so many uncertainties, but we can be hopeful because it’s not a no.  This week, I want to encourage all of those who are in a season of waiting.

Let’s think about a waiting room for minute.  When you go to the doctor’s office you have to wait before you can see the doctor.  Sometimes you are in the room by yourself and sometimes there are others waiting with you. Unlike in a spiritual waiting room, you can’t see the others waiting with you, and  you may feel all alone.  Some people read while they wait, some look at television while they wait and some go to sleep and wake up when the wait is over.  What do you do while you wait on God? Do you get tired, doubtful,  angry, frustrated and give up or do you wait patiently with anticipation?

I can honestly say, that I have felt each one of these emotions while waiting.  So much so, I have to encourage myself. God is in the waiting room with you even though it doesn’t feel like it.   I am reminded of Psalm 27:14 that says, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen  your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”  This scripture tells us to wait and be of good courage.  Courage is defined as the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. without fear.  Simply put, its being brave.  God wants us to have good courage, and He promises to strengthen or make us stronger in the process. Notice that we are told to wait at the beginning of the verse and then it is repeated at the end “Wait.” It also reminds us that we are waiting on the Lord.  He is in control.

What do you do while you are waiting?  Look for God’s hand in everything, pay attention to the details.  He is working in our everyday life, but we can get so focused on the one thing that we are waiting for until, we miss the blessings along the way.  Be obedient to the promptings that God gives you while you are waiting.  Stay committed to prayer and reading your Word everyday so that you can keep the right mind set while waiting.  Be encouraged my brother and sister, God has not forgotten about you.  He heard you the very first time that you asked.  Delayed hope makes one sick at heart, but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life.  (Proverbs 13:12)

Until next week,

Carolyn