As Max Lucado says, “I’m in the waiting room.” Not the exam room or the emergency room but the waiting room. We all know the exam room and emergency room are not places we want to visit but at least there is action going on in those rooms. Something is getting done. But the waiting room? Seems nothing is happening. Seems like a waste of time. But it’s not.
The waiting room can be a very lonely place. It may start crowded, bearable because many are there with you. Others get called. More chairs get empty. Before you know it you are the only one left. Waiting. Alone.
I’ve been here before and I know you have too. I was here a long time after the end of a career and waiting for the next path to take. It seemed the Lord would never get me out of the waiting room and reveal where we were going. The wait was painful but very necessary to prepare me for the new journey. Once the journey began, I came back to the waiting room as we began looking for Truth’s Place. And now, here I sit again… in the waiting room. Waiting to take new steps of faith. Waiting for answers and direction that only the Lord can provide.
The feelings are the same each time I enter… a sense of wonder, an expectation of WOW and yes, that unwanted feeling of worry. They greet me each time I enter to take a seat. I enjoy the company of wonder and WOW but worry makes the minutes seem like hours and days pass where I feel my name will never be called to leave this room. I try my best to get comfortable while I’m here. I position myself where the only way to get out is when You move. I know You will come through, I just don’t know how or when; so I wait. But I won’t waste this time. To pass the time I will read some Good News. I will serve others that may be in the room with me or maybe I will get a chance to help those in the exam room or emergency room. I will worship. I will be listening for when my name is called and I can get out of this room. I also know that once I’m out it will only be a matter of time before I enter again. I (we) will walk in and through this room our entire life. Maybe as we get more comfortable with wonder and WOW we won’t dread the wait so much. Maybe.
In the morning, O Lord you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3