Are You Waiting in God’s Waiting Room?

Do you enjoy waiting? We often wait in line at the grocery store, the bank, traffic lights, the Doctor’s office, and the like. Last week I had to wait two hours to see the Doctor, and I wasn’t happy about it. Waiting is not on my agenda. 

This scenario reminded me of my prayer life; I often must wait and “standby” for the answer. God does not always answer my prayers immediately when I pray, and I must wait in God’s waiting room.  In our instant” society, we find it very difficult to wait. 

Do you find it difficult to wait on the Lord? To wait means to remain inactive or in a state of repose until something expected happens. 

We often must wait on God while He challenges us and teaches us from His Word while we learn to submit to His will. We must not try to rush God. If we do, we may spoil His plan and cheat ourselves of the joy and satisfaction we would experience when we wait for His timing. God’s timing is perfect. We must give Him control. 

Waiting on God to answer our prayers means I must direct my thoughts on Him in hopeful expectation of how He will answer my prayer. David writes in Psalms 5:3 “. . . I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” God designed us to stay conscious of Him, trusting Him instead of figuring things out ourselves.   

In I John 5:14, we read, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” God always hears the requests of our needs, desires, or wishes, but He may not be ready to answer them. He may want to build our character, teach us patience, or not be the right timing. He knows best when it is the right time to accomplish His will for our grandchildren and us. It may take a while; it may not even be in our lifetime. 

Waiting on God to answer our prayers means I must direct my thoughts on Him in hopeful expectation of how He will answer my prayer. David writes in Psalms 5:3.”. . . I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” God designed us to stay conscious of Him, trusting Him instead of figuring things out ourselves.   

We must ask, wait, and trust Him for the answers to our prayers. He will answer our prayers more abundantly than we can ask, in His timing. Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” 

What are you waiting for in God’s waiting room today? Ask God to help you remain patient as you wait in His waiting room for His timing. 

Dear Lord, I want to thank you for the promise in your Word that you hear my prayers when I pray. Give me patience as I wait for you to accomplish your will in my life before you answer. Teach me the things you want me to learn while I am waiting for you to answer. Help me to trust you for your timing and that you will answer more abundantly than I ask. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Lillian Penner, Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net