Sitting at my kitchen counter, I ate my warm oatmeal and pondered the topic: waiting. My friend’s dilemma related to her professional life, and mine touched my personal life. As we encouraged each other back and forth with our text messages, I realized that she and I are not alone.

Waiting for something or someone seems to perpetually command a placeholder in our lives.

Waiting for:

a medical school slot to open up

a business permit to be acquired

a boss to get back to us

the insurance company to approve

an interview to be granted

a biopsy report to come in

an internship to turn up

a spouse to change

a prodigal to come home

one’s finances to improve

a friendship to be reconciled

a healing to take place

an email to be answered

If Waiting is a Biblical theme — and it is — we ask, “Why is waiting so hard?” Perhaps, as one of life’s greatest challenges, waiting reminds us that we are not in control.

So while sitting in Life’s Waiting Room, allow these three thoughts to alleviate — lessen — the agony.

Perspective

The Lord of all time is also the Lord of timing.

-Ronnie Stevens

While we are waiting, God is working.

-Alistair Begg

Presence

God + nothing is more than enough.

(God’s very Presence offers fullness of joy — Psalm 16:11 — with or without what it is that I am waiting on or for. So, while we wait, we still get God!)

-Larry Thompson

Provision

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

-2 Peter 1:3 Berean Study Bible

How well do you wait?

Why do you think waiting is so challenging?

What are you waiting on right now?

What thought of encouragement do you have to offer to a fellow-waiting pilgrim?

Note: Please keep in mind, the definition of alleviate is to lessen, as opposed to eliminate. Only God can eliminate the agony of waiting.

Originally published at DebbyThompson.com. Reprinted with permission.

Debby Thompson is the author of The Leader’s Wife: Living with Eternal Intentionality®.