The Waiting Room, Part 1

I agree with the expression “no man is an island,” but there is often so much angst involved in waiting. Be it waiting to hear how a loved one is faring after a health scare, waiting for a response from a job interview, or even something as simple as waiting for a group member to submit their part of a group project; no matter the occasion, it is hardly ever fun to wait on someone else. It can’t be helped however, as we will inevitably have to rely on someone at some point in our lives.

Now, imagine if you were waiting on yourself… How reliable would you say you are? If you are honest with your response, you would humbly admit that there might have been times when you have fallen short. Now, if you yourself know that you are not infallible, I’d imagine that you wouldn’t (reasonably) expect any other human to be either.
This thought does not just apply to people though. Kingdoms and empires topple. Monarchs and administrations change. Businesses fail. Relationships fall apart. Technology messes up. A lot of things we put our faith in and wait on nowadays are not  nearly as stable as we make them out to be.

The Bible often warns us not to put our trust in things or people (or even ourselves), and here are a few examples:

Ps. 146:3-4 – Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.’ (NLT)

Ps. 33:16-17 – ‘The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.’ (NASB)

Prov. 11:28a – ‘He who trusts in his riches will fall…’ (NASB)

Jer. 17:9 – ‘“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?’ (NASB)

So, knowing that just about everything we’re familiar with isn’t fail-proof, the question arises:

What can we count on?

Well, the Bible points us in one direction:

Prov. 3:5 – ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.’ (NASB)

Jer. 17:7-8 – ‘…blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.’ (NLT)

So, does this mean that waiting on God is easier than waiting on the other things we have mentioned above?

No.

It is actually harder.

Why?

Well, you will have to wait until next time to find out! When it is uploaded, it will be linked here.

Until then, God bless you all.