Recently, I’ve been to far more doctors, counselors, etc. than I’d ever would have imagined. And what do all of them have in common? A waiting room. Some waiting room have TVs blaring, while others have soothing music daintily tiptoeing across the backdrop of silence. Some have people littered throughout due to missed appointments, late appointments, etc. Others are always empty. One has a random therapy dog that always comes out and waits for people to pet him. Almost all of them have magazines, books, puzzles, games, or something to occupy your mind while you wait. No matter what each waiting room has within it, they all have something in common. You have to wait to go there. On second thought, you go there just to wait. What you do during the wait time is determined by you, but no matter what: you wait.
I’ve been realizing this is true in life as well. It has waiting rooms. Almost everyday for the last 3+months that I’ve battled this postpartum depression, I’ve asked, pleaded, begged God to remove it. Every day that it continues on and continues to be a struggle for me, I realize something. God is telling me to wait. Every time I come up with this fact: I’m currently sitting in one of life’s waiting rooms. How long I’ll be there only God Himself knows. While it may seem like a missed appointment or a late appointment to me, I know we’re right on His schedule. What I do while I’m in the waiting room can make a big difference.
Here are some things I’ve found to make a difference for me:
- Pray. Pray for yourself. Pray for your situation. Pray for your family. your friends. the world. Whatever God lays on your heart, pray for that.
- Grow. Grow in some area of your life. Want to learn more about something? Read. Want to get in shape? Exercise. Research diet and meal plans. Get on Pinterest. Do something that grows and stretches you.
- Get a hobby. Want to pick up left-handed calligraphy or adult coloring books? Now is the time. Get a hobby, something that you enjoy - even if it is just for this season of your life.
- Be thankful. No matter what, be thankful. Cultivate a thankful heart by writing down blessings, small victories, etc. Make a list and then praise back to God that list. Often.
Now, I wonder, when you find yourself in the waiting room of life, what do you find yourself doing?
