In the Waiting Room

Written by Jennifer Azubuike

While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

“Where is your wife, Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he said.

Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

So, Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh. (Gen 18:7-15)

* * *

Physically, a waiting room is a place provided for people to wait for their turn for something, and everyone has used one at some point; either at the doctor’s office, the bus station or public restroom.

In life, this waiting room translates to a stretch of time a person waits for something they desire to happen. It could be for a job, a baby, a spouse, residence permit…the list goes on. For a Christian, the place of waiting is also a stretch of time to wait for something but in this case is believing God to do that thing of desire which he/she cannot do for themselves. I do not know a Christian who has not waited. Examples are also abundant in the scriptures.

The waiting room can be dark and lonely. Dark because you usually do not know when the waiting will end and lonely because

You may have kept it a secret, so nobody knows you need support
Some friends, family or acquaintance are privy to your situation but don’t know exactly how to help so they physically or emotionally distance themselves
Some people are quite supportive but are fighting their own battles
Some do not understand at all or may want to help but just end up hurting you with their actions or words (Remember Job’s wife?)

People at their best can only support you in those times. The deal is still between you and God. Can I tell you why God makes us wait? Absolutely not! I don’t know. Infact, I sometimes imagine there is a long line of requests in heaven with all the prayers that go up from here, but I don’t really know the answer. Besides, Job’s reason of waiting was different from Joseph’s.

Here’s something I have learned though; with God the process of waiting is just as important as the desired goal or destination. If we allow it, the waiting period has the power to build, change, and teach us something valuable. In the meantime, to survive the waiting room.

Pray. I mean never allow the coals on your prayer altar to grow cold. Jesus recommended that himself in Luke 18:1-8
Always remind yourself that Jesus already won the battle. Regardless of your troubles, He won!
Finally, believe that Jesus will come through for you. Isaiah 43:31 says: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Till next time, Stay lifted. See other posts here