Waiting Well in the Waiting Room

Scripture: 

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Intentional Inspiration

A few days ago I shared an earlier blog  I wrote entitled “Don’t Get Weary in the Wait” with someone I’ve admired from afar for a while and recently met in person at an amazing event. After reading the blog they asked, “why did you stop blogging?” I replied, “I did not stop blogging, I just don’t publish often”. However, after that text conversation, I felt a push and began praying. Instantly, blog titles rushed me like a mighty rushing wind. Each morning as I woke up to pray and I get  ready for work, I woke up with lyrics from songs that caused me to write. This morning was no different. A song that I had heard early this week revisited me again… “We Wait”. It was so strong that I decided to play it as I prayed. In that moment I was reminded of blog drafts I had written about waiting but did not publish…oh the tears!!!

As I rested in God’s presence, I traveled through the different moments and season of waiting…oh the tears. Then I remembered being in a waiting room in 2023. I went to the doctor, and she mentioned that I needed surgery because I had many ovarian cysts. She had been monitoring these cysts for over six months, and they were increasing in number. I remember driving home feeling defeated because I thought the cysts were going to dissolve. I shared the news with some trusted friends who were my prayer sisters. I expressed my prayer declaration and what I was standing in faith for…HEALING and WHOLENESS. Three months later I went in for my pre-op appointment as they wanted to give me information about the day of surgery which was a week away. As they completed their conversation, I asked if an ultrasound was not part of the pre-op and they said it was not, however if the patient requested an ultrasound, they would complete one…I asked. As the technician completed the ultrasound, she looked perplexed but tried to hide it. She asked me to get dressed and sent me to the WAITING ROOM!

Beloved, it felt as if I was in the waiting room forever! My mind started wondering so much so, I decided to open my bible APP because I started to get apprehensive. As I sat waiting, I decided to read my devotion for the day and it read “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving...,”. I realized that being thankful for anything sets the stage for the best part: the promise. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).” I knew for a fact God sent this gentle reminder right when I needed it most. I had been telling myself to breathe as I waited for the doctor to come in. So many things flooded my mind. Reading that verse reminded me of what my job in that moment and moments of waiting really was. My job is to pray and allow the peace of God dress me. Finally, I was called to the doctor’s room where I overheard the technician and the doctor conferring about my scan. Technician mentioned to the doctor that I had shared with her that I had been praying and believing God. The doctor walks in and said, “surgery canceled because you have no cysts”. I started thanking God right there. By the time I walked out I was praising, and tears graced my face!

How often do you find yourself waiting? What were some feelings that accompanied waiting? You may say you have a myriad of feelings, emotions, thoughts, and more. However, God wants us to remain calm, don’t be anxious, and pray in the wait. He wants us to trust that His peace will flood the room while we wait. He wants us to wait well. I know it is hard to wait well if we lack the right equipment. That is why knowing how God want us to wait is important.

In total transparency, I did not always wait well because I allowed the tiredness of waiting to consume me. However, as I experienced different waiting seasons, I began to search for scriptures of waiting. I started studying the many people in the bible that waited.  I begin to understand that my posture, patience, purpose, and growth in the wait was just as important as the blessing of waiting.

How to Wait Well

Waiting well requires you to pray and speak life and not death (Proverbs 18:21). It requires us to spend time in God’s presence and allow Him to cleanse us, guide us, and build us up as we wait. Like me in that waiting room, you may be waiting for a good doctor’s report, a financial breakthrough, your destiny spouse, the ending of barrenness, or something you can’t even share, and it feels like in eternity. I encourage you to wait well. Ask God to reveal His purpose in your wait. Ask Him to surround you with the right circle of people that will give your faith a boost and pray for you when you find yourself getting weary. Be intentional about what you speak, do, and think. Do not self-destruct while you wait, but feast on God’s word. Think of the good things of the season you’re in (Philippians 4:8).

🙏🏾Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you for loving me as I grow and understand Your purpose for my waiting. Help me to see You in a real way. Lord, I don’t want to wait begrudgingly and disappoint You. I don’t wait to wait frustrated, annoyed, and hopelessly. Deliver me from waiting in a rush as if time is running out. I want my waiting to point others to you and lead them into your presence. Anoint me to wait well and trust Your timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11). Lord, mute the negative voices and thoughts that try to infiltrate my headspace as I wait for You (Luke 1:19-20). Let my words and character mirror You as I spend time with You and build my relationship with You. Renew my strength as I wait and believe You for the best that You have for me. Lord, I trust You!

Amen

🎶 Music Manna: We Wait