.png)
A few months ago, my youngest developed a very high fever which lasted a few days. Worried that it could be something serious, we rushed to the ER in desperate need of some help.
I have been blessed never to have had a reason to rush to the ER before, so in my mind, the ER was something similar to what we see on TV. Everyone is in a rush; you burst through the doors, and the doctors and nursing staff are all waiting to assist. Uhm… wrong!
We get there and we wait and wait. Eventually, they do a triage assessment and, guess what, we wait some more. My nerves were shot but I had to stay calm. As much as you hope nothing is seriously wrong with your child, you sort of hope that with the triage assessment is serious enough to be helped immediately.
Seconds start feeling like minutes, and minutes like hours. Finally, they call your name (Yes! Finally!) just to take you to the ward where, guess what, you wait some more. Until eventually, the doctor comes.
This reminds me a lot of when we pray and ask God for something. We want our prayers to be answered immediately. But it doesn’t always happen that way, and the wait feels never-ending.
Funny enough, at the hospital, the wait is never-ending, but we stay and wait because we know and believe the doctor will see us eventually. Yet when we ask God for something, we also know He will come through. But if the wait seems just a little bit too long for our liking, doubt starts to creep in, and we lose faith that God will come through for us. We even wonder if He heard us in the first place. And so often, just before our breakthrough, we give up.
So often, during the waiting period, God uses it to shape us and prepare us for what is to come. The waiting period is never in vain. A lot of growth can come from it. The best thing to do is to lean into God in these moments.
Here are a few things to do while waiting:
Believe that the same God who saved you listens to your cries, even if He seems silent. Have faith that He is working for your good (Micah 7:7, Romans 8:32).
Watch with anticipation, but understand that God's answers might come in unexpected ways. Growth often involves discomfort, but it's part of His good work in us (Psalm 5:3).
Place your hope in God's promises rather than in unreliable sources. His Word provides a firm foundation and assurance that He will bring joy and an intimate relationship with Christ (Psalm 130:5-6).
Lean not on your own understanding, but trust in God's wisdom and His plan for your life. Seasons of waiting reveal where we place our trust (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Resist anxiety and anger. Choose to be still and patient, knowing that God is sovereign and in control of your circumstances (Psalm 37:7-8).
In times of waiting, combat fear with faith in God's promises. Remember that your strength comes from Christ, who will never leave you (Psalm 27:13-14; 31:24, 2 Corinthians 4:17).
Use the waiting period to witness God's goodness. Recognize that trials and delays are opportunities for God to work in and through you (Psalm 27:13, Lamentations 3:25).
Avoid taking matters into your own hands. Trust that God's timing is perfect and His promises are true, even when waiting feels endless (Acts 1:4, Ephesians 3:20).
Persist in prayer with a thankful heart, trusting that God hears and will act according to His will, even if not in the way or timing you expect (Colossians 4:2).
Focus on the eternal promises of God rather than temporary frustrations. God works all things together for good, and the ultimate joy and freedom from sin await believers (Isaiah 30:18, Romans 8:28, Colossians 3:2-4).
The doctors came through for us; we found the cause of the fever, and my son received the right medical treatment all because we were patient enough to wait. Just like the doctors, God will, even more so, come through for us – every single time. We just have to be patient and keep the faith. The best part is, God will give you over and above more than what you even asked for. He loves you THAT much.
Related Posts
