Originally posted 02-25-2010. Reposted 03-01-2011.
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Waiting is a pain. No human has a natural tendency for enjoying waiting. Some people are better at it than others, but none of us truly likes it. Most of us would agree that the three hardest words in the English language are, “Wait and see”. Yup, waiting is a pain.
We especially dislike waiting when we are hoping for God to make some great breakthrough. We long for something to change. We hope for answers to prayers. We look forward with expectation. Yet time feels like it’s standing still for us. Did I mention that waiting is a pain?
I once heard pastor Craig Groeschel preach a message in which he spoke about waiting. He said something along the lines of “While you’re waiting…wait”. Then he went on to talk about waiting tables. Waiting tables is serving. The message was clear: While you wait, serve. Wow!
God doesn’t put us in a waiting room with nothing to do but play with our smart phones or read magazines like Doctors do. God’s waiting room is life. It’s a place where we are surrounded by people who long to be loved. It’s an active waiting room with PLENTY to do, and it’s fulfilling!
I’ve certainly been through seasons of waiting, but Craig’s message has helped me reevaluate how I see those seasibs. I see the people I’m serving and realize that times of waiting are not wasted. They are times of very real ministry to the people God has placed in my life. I’ve also noticed some opportunities to serve that I missed. Yikes! I need to make that right.
Are you waiting? If so, wait…serve…reach out in love…make a positive mark in someone’s life. Then you’ll see that waiting isn’t a pain after all!
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“…the Son of Man did not come to be waited upon, but to wait upon others, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ~Mattew 20:28 (New Alan Version)