Waiting is never easy. No matter what kind of waiting it is! Waiting on a line at the grocery store is a common example used by many, but what about those waiting to hear the results of a biopsy? Very different type of waiting, isn’t it? It’s more serious for someone waiting to hear of a medical result than for one waiting for a clerk to hurry up so they can get home and eat their snacks on the couch.

It’s so easy to walk right past someone who may be experiencing this kind of waiting, which can include very frightening thoughts. However, we may never be able to tell with some people, especially those who smile through everything. They are usually the ones whose strong faith in God has carried them through other storms in the past. They know deep within that it will be okay, no matter what.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Psalm‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

But there are those who are obviously waiting in fear and anxiety. They may not necessarily be waiting for a doctor’s report. It could be a family situation, finances, or a myriad of other issues. Waiting can be like a war! Our minds are under attack the whole time we are waiting. Sometimes our thoughts are like rapid fire and it’s very difficult to just think clearly.

Sometimes people are overwhelmed with confusion, anger, and fear. They may even feel guilty for feeling this way! It’s a wargame being played in their mind. I know firsthand because I walked down this path myself in the past. The enemy is a great big liar! Don’t waste another moment having conversations with him. Let’s read this carefully…

Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:14–15

I absolutely love this Scripture. Jesus has set us free from this evil liar! I hope that you will take some time to read this scripture and the entire book of Colossians over and over. It’s so beautiful what Jesus has done. I believe that as we receive this amazing truth, we will learn to wait better.

We all understand how a conversation goes. There’s back and forth receiving and giving of information. The moment we hear anything in our mind, that we know Jesus would NEVER say to us, we must stop and submit that thought to God. Our warfare is not visible to us. So, we must stay connected to heaven because while we pray, we are being protected and defended. That’s great news!

Everything is changing in us as we wait.  It’s incredible. Did you know that the word endurance means character? 

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Hebrews 10:36

When reading this portion of the Bible, I always stopped at this word endurance. What does it mean to “need endurance”? For which promise? Well, as we endure our trials, struggles and waiting, our character is being transformed into His Image. We are being changed little by little. This is a beautiful promise. We will be like Him, just as it was meant from the beginning.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the LORD’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LORD, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

All that really matters is His Purpose for us and that we submit to Him while we are waiting. Maybe the waiting will end when we fully trust in Him by giving Him every unmet desire, every dream, every question we have, and just let go and trust His plan and HIS timing.    

I heard the best illustration today on what his plan looks like next to ours. This is cute.

A little girl turns to her Father and says. “Daddy you promised me a nickle.” The father looks in his pocket. No coins. Not even a dollar. Just a twenty dollar bill.  “Hmmmm okay, here you go. Since you’ve been such a good girl. I’m giving you $20.00.”  The little girl starts to cry. “I want a nickle! You promised me a nickle. I want my Nickle!” Father says, “you don’t understand, there are many nickels in this twenty dollar bill.” But, she cried and cried “you promised me a nickel!” 

My thought…By giving her the twenty dollars, he was still keeping his promise, right? Only so much more! If we would just understand that the waiting has a much bigger purpose.  God’s plan for us is the the twenty dollar bill, not the nickle. 

I pray that if you are in that “waiting room” right now asking and seeking help and answers from God, no matter what it is, you will be filled with comfort and peace. That you will know that above all things, you are loved by the Father and Creator.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3-4‬