The Waiting Game

Is There Anything Worth Waiting For?

Have you ever thought about how much time we spend waiting? 

After waiting on the phone for thirty-five minutes for a representative to help me with a billing issue, I was at my wit’s end. By the time I was able to talk to a person, I must admit my fuse was short. My frustration reminded me of how we are all continually waiting for something or someone. I decided to do a little research to see how much time we spend waiting, and I am shocked. 

Did you know the average person spends 43 days of their life on hold? Talk about depressing! But wait, there is more!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in this study, the average person spends 10 years of waiting in line. 

These statistics made me think about the value of time. How much time do we spend endlessly waiting for life to happen to us?  

The Waiting Game 

As children, we can’t wait to grow up and become an adult, and as adults, we can’t wait to pay off the mortgage, get the kids through college and retire!  

Think about this; we have created waiting rooms for people to wait. It is apparent how much waiting for something or someone influences our lives.  

Some things are worth waiting a lifetime… Click To Tweet

Do You Get Annoyed Waiting? 

Have you ever had to wait for the bathroom, even in your own home? How about waiting for dinner, whether it was being made or delivered. We all know what it is like waiting for our computer to download, upload, or reboot. How about waiting for your kids or spouse so you can get out the door for school and work?  

How long have you waited on the phone after being placed on hold? Is there anything more annoying than elevator music when all you want to do is talk to a human?  

We wait at red lights or stand at crosswalks waiting for our turn to go. If you live anywhere near a large city, chances are you wait in traffic. Trust me; I know all about this! We sit in doctor’s offices, waiting even when we have scheduled an appointment. We stand in line, waiting to get groceries or going to the post office.  

We wait for momentous occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. We wait for babies to be born and loved ones to pass. There is nothing harder than waiting in a waiting room while a loved one is having surgery or giving their final breaths.  

Waiting for Answers 

We wait for news, whether it is good or bad.  I cannot imagine what it must have been like when the people we love were off serving in the war, and their loved ones were waiting to hear from them, and there was no television or social media. 

We wait for storms to come and go and grass, flowers, and vegetables to grow. We are currently waiting for a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus and this pandemic to be over.  

Is anything worth waiting for?

Related Post: 3 Things You Find In The Waiting

Waiting is Hard 

We all have desires and dreams that have been placed within our hearts and waiting to come to fruition. Waiting can be exciting, or it can be excruciating, sad, lonely, and fill you with anxiety. Waiting can make the most patient people lose their patience.  

Some of us have been praying for something or someone for a long time. Waiting for our prayers to be answered is hard. I believe waiting for an answer is one of the hardest things we do.  

Waiting for Jesus 

There is something else I have been waiting for, but others have been waiting longer, and some have never seen it in their lifetime.

Do you know what it is? 

It’s waiting for Jesus to come and take His bride home. 

We still have hope in a world full of chaos, brokenness, hate, division, and injustice.

Why?

Because we are waiting in anticipation of the Messiah’s return. It is a promise given to us in His Word.   

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.

John 14:1-4

No matter what this year brings, we have the eternal hope that Jesus is coming back for each of us. While we wait, we don’t have to worry or be perplexed about the world’s situation. Jesus assures us if we trust in Him, and when everything is ready, He is coming to get us, and our waiting will be over.  

No matter what this year brings, we have the eternal hope that Jesus is coming back for each of us.  Click To Tweet

Not only will the wait be over, but our sorrows in this world will be left behind, and our beloved Savior will take all our tears, hurts, heartaches and wipe them away. What do we do until then? We wait with anticipation and expectation.  

Waiting Isn’t Easy 

Again, waiting isn’t always easy, but knowing what you are waiting for makes all the difference. Do you realize every second we wait for His return allows another person to enter into a relationship with Jesus?  

Our waiting is for His good. Waiting allows us to grow in love and knowledge of our beloved Savior and let our light shine even more brightly for Jesus. While we are waiting, a mansion like none other is being prepared for us! However, we are assured when heaven is ready, Jesus is coming to get His bride, and we will have the blessing of being with Him forever.  

Waiting isn't easy...

Related Post: When You’re Tired of Waiting

Waiting is for Our Good 

We may be ready to go, but Jesus isn’t.  Jesus sees who needs time and some grace in waiting to return. Learning to wait is part of the process that shapes, forms, and makes us who we are to Him. The reality is that Jesus has been waiting over two thousand years to return to His bride, but He loves us and is patient enough to wait for us to fulfill what the Father desires for us.  

As a New Year begins and you find yourself waiting again, remember why you are waiting. Don’t become weary in waiting. We can’t rush God’s plan.  God has a perfect plan for you and me. I promise you He will be right on time. The enemy loves nothing more than to bring on fear, discouragement, and impatience as we wait. The enemy thrives on distracting us and making us inward-focused on ourselves rather than God’s promises for us. We may not always understand why we must wait so long, but we know what waiting produces.  

But those who wait on the Lord 
Shall renew their strength; 
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
They shall run and not be weary, 
They shall walk and not faint. 

Isaiah 40:31 

Waiting on Him renews our strength and keeps us running even when we should be tired. An article I recently read about eagles stated that eagles are the only birds to fly above the storms to wait it out. Therefore, they can fly for longer distances and not get tired. 

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So what are you waiting for today? Some things are a waste of time, but Christ’s return is worth waiting for every second. If you find yourself getting frustrated like I was, remember to try and stay above the storms of life so you can preserve your strength and go the distance needed. 

6 Comments

  1. Thank you for these great reminders. “No matter what this year brings, we have the eternal hope that Jesus is coming back for each of us.” That is what we all need to hear right now. Our job is still the same, no matter what happens in our country, God’s country. We have more “sprinkling Jesus” to do! 🙂

    1. Hi Kim,
      It is the greatest blessing to know that Jesus is coming back and that is what gives us patience and hope in the waiting. Yes, we do have LOTS of sprinkling Jesus to do!

  2. This is an interesting perspective on waiting. Some of the day-to-day illustrations on waiting, I don’t even process as waiting or as a negative.

    Perhaps it’s because I worship or listen to audiobooks, so my time is an intentional act of moving forward, instead of a frustration of being held back from life. Definitely, food for thought. Thanks for sharing, Sheila!

    1. Hi Lisa!
      These are great thoughts and you have given me some ideas. Living just outside of Washington, DC you find yourself waiting a lot. I’m going to start listening to podcasts and try not to be frustrated. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Hi Beth!
      What book are you reading? I have added you to my prayer list and will be praying with you for your healing. This is when waiting can seem the longest, but God is with you and He will see you through! I know we are not alone in waiting as we see many examples in scripture. I was just reading about the many women who waited patiently for answers. I need to learn more from them.

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