I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the space in time that exists after we pray. You know those days, weeks or months after we’ve made our request known to God. Before He gives us an answer. The moment while we’re sitting in the waiting room anticipating our name being called.
What do we do in the space of waiting?
Do we shake our fists at the sky asking God why He hasn’t answered? Do we sit at Jesus’ feet allowing Him to make us more and more like Him? What do we do in the waiting?
As I was thinking about this question, I realised that we’re more likely to question God’s character for not answering (right away) than we are to question our request or our own characters.
I think this is because we believe that being still and waiting is doing nothing. But there’s something happening in the waiting.
Learning from Theater
Have you ever been to a play? So much of the action happens on the stage, in front of our eyes, but a lot more is happening behind the scenes. And even more has happened in the preparation before the actors step foot on stage. Costumes were sewn, lines were memorized, characters were cast…in fact more action happens off stage than happens on stage.
When you’re in the waiting place, remember that God is behind the scenes working on your behalf.
Claim Psalm 40:1-3 as a promise as you wait. And if you have time today, read all of Psalm 40 as an encouragement.
I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay
He set my feet up on a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
I pray as we approach God in prayer that we have a posture of prayer and humility. I pray that we respect God’s sovereignty and His all-knowing nature and that we learn that the most action is happening in the waiting room.
God, help us to trust you even in the waiting.