A Day-by-day devotional

January 25, 2023

Wanting, Watching, Waiting

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 48-50

Scripture of the Day: Ecclesiastes 3

I had recently visited several institutions and most, if not all of them, entailed extremely lengthy waiting hours. In one of the visits, I had to queue up and wait for my turn, lasting up the entire morning. Still, in one of them, I had to endure a whole afternoon until my turn came.

In everyone’s lifetime, it is inescapable to experience waiting for something to transpire, someone to arrive or for things to be altered. I remember all those insufferable moments as the president of a young Christian girls‘ group in high school. We have study and prayer meeting every Saturday at 4 pm. As the leader, I would arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of time.

Filipinos, however, have a knack for tardiness with onset very early on in life – shaped up by societal norms and habits handed down from generations. And so as a 15-year-old young leader, I had to often wait for one to one a half hours before members arrive and we have a quorum. I would often ask myself, “Will they still ever come?“

This rather challenging phase in my life has greatly shaped my character. It enabled me to develop my patience in many aspects in life. I haven’t, however, been without any help. Seeking the Lord’s guidance and comfort has always been my go-to weapon against throwing the towel. Hence, although there had been regular bouts of “This hurts a lot!“, or “I am tired of all this“, I have learned to endure and not give up. However long it takes, I stand ground until the situation changes and becomes better. I hold on steadfastly to hope. I hold on until I get past the waiting room.

The waiting room doesn’t always have to be a room with four corners. It can be as vast and as wide as you would allow it to be. “What you do while waiting counts“, has been the gist and epitome of my attitude towards waiting. If we would fill up our waiting basket with bitterness and impatience, rest assured, we would not graduate from being in the waiting room to gain entry to the main room.

Whenever I am wanting, I first watch – pondering on the situation. Then, upon taking it to prayer, I wait. After all, my hope is in Christ alone. So, in the process of waiting, I ask Him to help me to be still, and trust that He is God (Psalm 46:10)! If I make Him Lord over the wanting (my desires), as I watch and wait for His answer, I am comforted.

Reflection: Are you currently in a season of waiting? Has your attitude towards God and prayer changed by the pain and challenges of waiting? Are you willing to lay all these down at the feet of Jesus and trust Him to bring you from this season to the next?

Prayer: Lord, teach me to be grateful despite the waiting I have to endure. Help me trust that in all of the waiting seasons, there are comparable, equivalent seasons of getting to see the fruits of all the waiting time I would labor through. Comfort me, dear God, whenever I am hurting from the pains of waiting. Amen.