Have you ever had to wait in prayer? Me, too. I think that’s something we have all probably experienced. I’m not sure about you, but waiting is not my favorite thing to do! I’m all for getting things taken care of and wrapped up right now! The thing is, God’s time table is not the same as ours. And that’s what we’ll discuss today – waiting in prayer.
I’m so happy to introduce to you my friend, Sarah Geringer. Sarah is the author of three self-published books and blogs regularly at sarahgeringer.com. She loves writing in the morning, reading in the afternoon, and enjoying family time in the evening. Sarah lives in her beloved home state of Missouri with her husband and three children.
I’ve been encouraged by Sarah’s words many times, especially inside her book, The Fruitful Life. Today, Sarah gives us some practical steps that can encourage and give perspective while we wait on the Lord. I think Sarah gives us great tips on how to wait well!
Waiting in Prayer by Sarah Geringer
In my heart, there is a waiting room for prayers. For some prayers, I’ve only had to wait a few hours to learn the answers. I didn’t have to wait long, but the pressure was still there. For other prayers, I had to wait many years for the answers. I’m still waiting on some prayers to be answered with anything other than “wait.”
I often meditate upon the truths in John Waller’s song “While I’m Waiting.” I play this song while I’m in that waiting room and pray through the truths, verse by verse.
I lean into hope. I put on a hopeful mindset when I pray. I trust that God has good things in store for me. If good things aren’t possible in my situation, then I trust that God has good lessons for me to learn in the circumstance. I hope for better days while I wait in prayer, and that hope shines a bright light in the otherwise dimly-lit waiting room.
I put on patience. Nothing tests my patience more than a prayer I want answered right this minute. I know God is infinite and all-powerful, so I am tempted to think, “Why can’t you just tell me now?” Still, in that waiting room I have learned that I can’t always handle the answer God has for me until the time is right. My patience has grown through the many hours and sometimes years of waiting.
Still, in that waiting room I have learned that I can’t always handle the answer God has for me until the time is right.Click To TweetI practice faithfulness. Meeting God every single day to pray in that waiting room has developed self-discipline. Even though I may pray the same prayer I’ve spoken for fifteen years in a row, I know that God hears me and encourages me to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. The more faithfully I pray, the more natural my wait becomes.
I receive peace. When I wait in prayer, I receive the peace that passes all understanding from the Holy Spirit. I know that God’s ways are higher than my ways, and his thoughts are higher than my thoughts. His timetable for answering prayer must be infinitely superior to mine. Meditating on those truths about God brings peace to my heart while I’m waiting.
I am obedient. Just because I have to wait does not give me a good excuse for complaining, gossiping, and showing self-pity. As greater hope, patience, faithfulness, and peace enters my heart in the waiting room, I am empowered to greater obedience.
I am bold and confident. I am certain God hears my prayers. I am confident he will answer them with perfect knowledge and timing. I am not bold and confident in my own strength or ability, but in God’s infinite wisdom and transcendence.
I don’t deny the pain. God knows my wait is difficult. He wants me to bring my hurt to him. As I’ve shared with him how hard the wait is, he embraces me and comforts me. In hindsight I can see now how God drew me ever so close in the hardest times of waiting. He used my pain to deepen our relationship, and that’s why the waiting room isn’t such a painful place anymore.
In hindsight I can see now how God drew me ever so close in the hardest times of waiting.Click To TweetI serve and worship God in the wait. No matter how difficult the prayer request is, I can always praise God for who he is. I try to incorporate daily praise into my prayer time. When I praise and worship God, he lifts my spirits. When I ask him to show me ways I can serve him in my wait, he opens my eyes to new opportunities and perspectives that take me outside the waiting room.
The waiting room of prayer is now a treasured spot in my heart. It’s a place where I have met God so often, and that’s why it’s dear to me. When I listen to that song, I’m reminded of the many hours I spent there. And I’m reminded of how much my faith has grown through waiting. -Sarah Geringer
I’m thankful to Sarah for these things to remember about waiting in prayer. I find it comforting that God knows the pain of waiting. I love how Sarah points out that God uses our pain to deepen our relationship with Him. There is much to be born through waiting even as difficult as it is!
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What memories the mention of that song just brought me! It and “That’s What Faith Can Do” by Kutlass were my two go-to songs over the two year span of adopting our daughter. The tears I shed – the moments of surrendering my wants over and over again – the peace I gained – the encounters I experienced. What memories! Love that you two have teamed up here ♥
Hugs to you both Leslie and Sarah!
Lori
That’s another good song, also in my playlist. Songs definitely minister to my spirit in hard times. Blessings to you!
Lori, Thank you for visiting and hugs right back to you!
What a beautiful post on waiting. I can be pretty impatient, and I often lack faith, only due to so many years of disappointment. In many ways. I’m still in God’s waiting room, but I’m learning to lean in, to trust more and to have patience, believing He is working all things out for my good and the good of my family.
Barbie, Thank you for stopping by and for commenting. Blessings!
Thanks for your comment here and at my blog, Barbie! Blessings to you!
What a great post on waiting in prayer! Waiting is hard, but these are such good points to remember as there is so much beauty in waiting in prayer as well.
Ronja, Thanks for stopping by today!
Hi Ronja, thank you for visiting my site and this post too. Doubly blessed by you!
So true, Sarah. So much of faith blooms in the midst of the wait. We wait, we pray, we trust. Thanks for sharing, Sarah and Leslie. ((xoxo))
Thanks, Brenda! I always appreciate your visits!
Brenda, it’s always good to visit with you online. Looking forward to seeing you at She Speaks too!
Sarah and Leslie, I’ve learned many of these same lessons and found comfort in the same truths during my stints in the waiting room (and there have been some lengthy ones). Tomorrow, in fact, I will be in another actual waiting room while my mom has a serious surgery, and I will be counting on the peace that surpasses understanding to be guarding my heart throughout that wait. Blessings to you both today!
Thanks for stopping by, Lois. Praying for your mom today!
Thank you Sarah, and Leslie! It is comforting to know-through all the difficulties of waiting- God understands that may be painful and difficult.
You are welcome, April! Thanks for stopping by!
When I’m waiting it helps me to remember first of all that I am waiting on the Lord (Psalm 27:14). That the answer to my prayer is in His capable hands and He always works everything our for my good. Maybe not the way I’d planned, but for my eternal good. Thanks for these great tips, Sarah! Blessings!
Amen, Liz! Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for sharing! I’m not patient and waiting rooms stink;)
Guess where I spend a lot of my time… waiting. God wants me to get good at it:)
I love your actions during these times.
I need to be better and will try some of your wisdom:)
Glad to be your neighbor at #LMMLinkup
Hi Julie! Sarah gave us some great tips about waiting well! Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for visiting here, Julie! I hope this post helps you next time you’re in the waiting room. Blessings to you!
Sarah,
Thanks for sharing this wonderfully edifying post about all the blessings we receive while we wait for answered prayer. Truly an encouragement to adopt those attitudes while we wait.
Karen, thank you for stopping by today! There are lots of blessings that come in the waiting and Sarah did a great job highlighting some of them. : ) Blessings!
Thank you Karen!
How I love that image of “putting on” patience. I’m afraid that I wear it like an ill-fitting garment sometimes. Thank you for sharing how this is all working itself out in your life. Waiting is the lesson that I keep coming back to because I keep needing to re-learn and grow in trust for the days of the unseen answers.
Michele, that was a great analogy! Thanks for visiting today!
Thanks for visiting, Michele!
Leslie, thank you for hosting me! I pray this post blesses others who are waiting in prayer.
Sarah, you are very welcome! I found your post quite encouraging as I am waiting on a few things that seem huge in my life right now. It was perfect timing for me! Thank you so much for guest posting! It’s a blessing!