How much of our time do we spend waiting?
We wait at stoplights, of course. We wait for others in our family to be ready to go someplace. We wait for updates to download to our computers.
We authors wait to be published, or we wait for inspiration.
I found myself in the last category this week. I had an idea…but couldn’t remember it. I waited for that idea to return, or for another one to hit.
Before my first book was published, I waited several years before finding a publisher. With each novel I’ve written, I’ve had to wait for my editor to review it, for my publisher to release it, for readers to discover it. (I’m still waiting for that. I’ve yet to become an author lots of readers are talking about, in spite of the awesome reviews from my loyal readers.)
I’ve also had to wait for results of a biopsy, for news of a career change, for the dreaded phone call about a dying parent. Maybe you have, too.
In fact, when our children were young and we faced several periods of waiting, my life verse became Isaiah 40:31:
they who wait for 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. (ESV)
A song we sang at one of my first writer’s conferences stays with me, and has helped me through many of these waiting times (listen to it here):
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedienceWhile I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait
(FromWhile I’m Waiting by John Waller, Reunion Records–listen to it here)
Sometimes, the green light never comes, but if we remember to serve God, to worship Him, and to trust Him for the final results, the waiting will be a precious time. We can look back on those times in the Waiting Room and see that He never left us alone.
What are you waiting for? Are you aware of God’s presence while you wait for Him to act? I’d love to hear from you!
