I’ve been sitting around in a lot of waiting rooms lately. My Mom has had health issues that stopped us all for a little minute. She’s doing so well now but in the waiting it was tough. 

We have never been alone in those rooms. In each chair, was a story. Some of their stories from a natural perspective seemed hopeless. Yet, each one there seemed to be seeking, doing their part, trusting that the next step will lead to better health.

God has a waiting room too. If you are not in it, I know you have visited it before. 

We all seem to be anticipating something. Whether we need a Counselor, Attorney, Physician, Financial Advisor, or Career Placement we need God to open up that door!

What are some things can we do while we wait? I was thinking recently that Facebook on mobile must have been created for waiting rooms. We need something to do. So let’s…

Breathe. Have you noticed that when we are anxious that we hold our breath and when we do breathe, we tend to breathe faster? Try to remember to breathe. Deep breathing can reduce stress and anxiety. It reduces our blood pressure and helps bring on calm. Deep in through our nose and exhale out through our mouth. I try to do that about 10 times when I feel that jittery, anxious feeling hit me.

Settle in. God moves in perfect timing. And, that’s usually not our timing. Ugh. It makes me want to start deep breathing just thinking about it. 

Think back. What has God done for us in the past? Gosh, what has He done for us right in the middle of this craziness we find ourselves. My Mom had an episode of extremely high blood pressure over a weekend. We visited the ER three times, in one weekend! We prayed. Lord, lower her blood pressure. Please. He did not. What was discovered through that process was an incidental finding of an adrenal tumor. If He had answered our first prayers, that tumor would not have been found and she would still be carrying around that awful thing.

Look for God’s hand in your situation. Treasures in the midst of rubble. God has not abandoned us. He is busy working on our behalf. Sometimes we must train our minds to look close for His fingerprints, but they are there. Helping, comforting, sending peace, and in Mom’s case allowing some high blood pressure!

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:11-12, ESV

Seek joy. Not happiness. That’s so tied to our surroundings and our emotional state. I’m talking about inner strength. Inner peace. I mean run after it. Become determined to hang on to it. Stop speculating and dreaming up scenarios. We do not know the future. We are just not qualified to be junior gods. I literally shake my head and say, Nope. You are not going there. Stop it!

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5, NASB

Since we do not know, then why think the worst? Let’s practice thinking the best.