In the Waiting Room

By Diana Rose (WITHIN Devotional Contributor)

Learning to wait well is a lifelong lesson. 
As a Parkinson’s patient I am discovering a new kind of waiting. Not the normal waiting on other people, 
or waiting for time to pass, 
but waiting for my abilities to diminish. 
There is something about scanning your body daily 
for new deficits and difficulties 
that sharpens your perception of time. 
The Bible says, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor 
that appears for a little while 
and then vanishes away.” James 4:14 

Not knowing what was wrong with my body. 
Waiting for test results and lab work. 
Pressing for answers for years. 
Waiting for the diagnosis. 
Waiting for medication to take effect. 
Not knowing how long the medication would work. 
Waiting for check-ups and follow-ups. 
All this pointed me to the truth of James 4:14 
I do not know what my life will be like 
and my life is a vapor. 

James 4:14 is not meant to be an insult 
but it is an accurate assessment of our limitations. 
How do we wait well? Does waiting mean idleness? 
When I feel I have no control and all I can do is wait I am reminded that as we wait and wonder what tomorrow will bring 
the God honoring response is humility, 
and in our waiting to draw near to God. 
"Draw near to God, 
and he will draw near to you. 
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, 
and purify your hearts, you double-minded... 
Humble yourselves before the Lord, 
and he will exalt you." James 4:8 & 10 

Humility is difficult for everyone 
because we want to be our own master. 
We must understand that our lack of control over our lives is a sign of God's grace 
unto salvation and unto Christlikeness. 
He gives grace, 
His son.

More grace, 
His spirit. 
Grace upon grace, 
His word and His church. 
Grace to the weary, 
to the broken, 
to the lost, 
and the waiting. 
A grace freely given 
that gives power to humbly submit 
to God. 
"But he gives more grace. 
Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 
Submit yourselves therefore to God" 
James 4:6 & 7 
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:

Read James 4
Questions to Reflect on:

1. In what areas of life are you waiting? 
   
2. What evidence of His grace have you seen in your life?