Waiting Rooms: A Reflection by Pastor Mary

I have to admit I was not looking forward to today. The alarm went off at 5 am and I knew what it meant. Steve and I would quickly get dressed and head off to Baptist Hospital's cardiac center where he would undergo a procedure to check a possible blocked artery.

We arrive at 6 am, after a quick stop at Starbucks to make me happy, then to get in a long line and wait to register Pastor Steve.  Once he was registered we take a seat in the ...waiting room…to do none other than.....wait.  We were both a little nervous at this point but were quickly distracted and found ourselves laughing. There were a few folks falling asleep and as immature as it sounds, seeing that early in the morning provided some much needed comic relief.   Oh well, we had to do something while we were waiting!  Don't judge us :).  It's never the patients that fall asleep, just the family members who are there for support! 

After a few minutes the door opens and a very nice hospital staffer calls Steve's name and takes us upstairs to yet another .......waiting room. This one was a little nicer and much less crowded. And we wait.  Our wait was shorter this time and soon his name was called again and he was escorted off to get prepped for his procedure. As I wait in the waitingroom I'm in, Steve waits for the Doctor to arrive and for things to get underway.  We know that we have at least 2 hours before we'll know anything (the nurse said he'll let me know if it's a boy or a girl as soon as he can :) so I decide to get a few things done while I.........wait.

I'm reminded how easy it would be to use this time in the .....waiting room as a time to worry and bite my nails but what benefit is that to anyone?  It certainly doesn't help Steve and since I'm confident that the report will be a good one, why just sit here and worry?   I'm confident that God is in complete control of this outcome and I believe that we haven't come this far to be set back.  If that's what I believe then why not use this time to do something constructive?  Like write this blog!  Don't get me wrong, l don't enjoy waiting as much as anyone. I want the report without the process of the test!  I hate waiting for test results!  But a waiting period can be good for us.  It gives us a chance to count our blessings. (As I sit here this morning I can't help but notice a 16 year old boy who's here for a heart procedure...perspective).  It affords us an opportunity to discover things about ourselves. It allows patience to have "her perfect work".

The Isaiah 40:31 says "they that WAIT upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not be weary, walk and not faint."

And there I go!  I've gone ahead and blessed myself!!!  I hope it has blessed you too.

On this PrayDay, find a renewed sense of strength as you wait on the Lord.