The Waiting Room
“Is This Really Waiting?”
We began a series titled the Waiting Room with the purpose of discovering what God reveals to us in these moments of waiting.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Well the title of today’s message is:
“Is this really waiting?”
I had this thought several weeks ago as I was driving home: Is it really waiting if I’m doing something while I wait?
- Refining
- What about my current circumstance? Could I be called here?
Once again, these questions are rooted in who or what we consider to be “The Authority”.
When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.
"Excuse me," Governor Herter said, "do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?" "Sorry," the woman told him. "I'm supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person." "But I'm starved," the governor said. "Sorry," the woman said again. "Only one to a customer." Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. "Do you know who I am?" he said. "I am the governor of this state." "Do you know who I am?" the woman said. "I'm the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister."
Bits & Pieces, May 28, 1992, pp. 5-6. (sermonillustrations.com)
Who is really in charge here? - Ever said this to your Creator? Maybe not in so many words, but in action...
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
For the person who has truly placed full authority in God hands, this verse should bring hope! It means that in everything (not just good, and not just bad) there is purpose.
In fact, as hard as this is to say, there might be even greater purpose in those moments of waiting. Repeat: EVEN GREATER PURPOSE IN WAITING!
So I’ll ask you to think about it again: If there is purpose there, is this really waiting?
I want to show you two promises we realize when we give God full authority:
1. There is No Chance
If we believe that God is the ultimate Authority, we have to believe that there is no such thing as chance, happenstance, coincidence or cosmic accident.
It’s impossible to say that God is in complete control, but sometimes he let’s things slip through the cracks. It’s a complete contradiction!
Job 37:5-6 (NLT)
God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power. 6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.
Think about that for a second. God directs each individual snowflake and raindrop to fall and land to the exact location they fall. Something that can seem so small and insignificant, God orchestrates to the tiniest detail! This should be awe inspiring!
A. From Chance to Providence
We need to change our perspective on life.
Today I’d like to examine the word Providence.
In Latin, “Pro” means “before” --- “Vid” (like video) means “to see” --- Providence means “to see before”
prov·i·dence n
the wisdom, care, and guidance believed to be provided by God
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
So the change of thinking goes from happy accident to planned purpose. I am exactly where I am on purpose!
- Even if it’s not something “I” planned or anticipated
- If it’s the consequence of sin
- If it’s what I chose, but not the result I expected
God’s Providence is always at work in my life!
Proverbs 16:9, 33 (NLT)
9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
33 We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.
I love how verse 33 likens our natural beliefs to gambling. What is gambling? It is a risk, something that we feel is left to chance!
But this proverb tells us that even in what we might consider “chance” God is still in control.
To see Providence at work takes time!
The interesting thing about Providence is the fact that it is rarely something we recognize immediately. And the irony is that something meant as foresight is found in hindsight.
This is the FAITH part of Providence. We may not realize providence in the moment that it is taking place, but we have to trust that God our Authority is authoring and orchestrating Providence every minute of our lives.
There is no Chance…
2. We Are Strategically Placed
If nothing is left to chance, the logical next step is that we are strategically placed exactly where we find ourselves today.
Have you ever played “Battleship”…?
The good news today is that a master strategist is in charge…
Acts 17:26-28 (NIV)
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
Look at what this passage tells us:
- God places everyone in time and space
- We were created for Him that we might seek Him
- From God we have our purpose!
Psalm 139:3-5 (NLT)
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
One of the best quotes I’ve heard in a long time that echoes Psalm 139 in rewording:
Psalm 37:23 (NLT)
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
“The Lord orders our stops as well as our steps.”
- Ron Flores
God know everything, we do and is with us everywhere we are. God is intimately and actively involved in your life. You are where you are on purpose. Strategic.
Don’t take that lightly, because this is serious!
3. Make the Most… - Stop Killing Time!
I want to read you two verses that were a part of my daily reading on the same day:
Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NLT)
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
Ephesians 5:16-17 (NLT)
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Do you see the commands here? Even if you don’t understand “Why” you’re in the place you find yourself today, there is still a task to be done!
You might have to search for it, but God’s work is all around us! I had the thought of "Am I really waiting" when I spotted a homeless man. There was someone to reach out for God right in front of me! If we are ever going to receive that purpose in the waiting room, we have to do two things:
A. Stop worshipping at the altar of regret
“Golden Days” or “Dark Days” will only hold you back!
Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you. We must learn from the past but not live in the past.
Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe (Sermonillustrations.com)
B. Stop Looking for Greener Grass (looking past!)
Here is where I fall short all the time. I am constantly thinking, “Someday…”
There is nothing wrong with having goals and ambitions, but if they sought after at the expense of the tasks that have been set before you, then they are no longer helping.
They are a detriment. God does not give us vision to forsake the tasks in front of us—otherwise why were we called to do it in the first place?
I was visiting with one of my former youth/interns who had just graduated from college. We were talking about the future and God’s will in life (since she’s in a transition period of life). She recalled how for their weekly chapel meetings there would occasionally be a guest speaker that would inspire and “work up” the students to the point that they would begin questioning their life and purpose with, “I need to rethink my life.”
And she would just reply, “Maybe you just need to go to class!”
C. Bloom where you are planted!
Show picture of plant in cement:
http://www.constantediting.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/090-300x225.jpg
Romans 12:11-12 (NLT)
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
You are exactly where you are on purpose. This season of waiting is not a season of wasting! God wants to use you exactly where you are!
Is this really waiting? God doesn’t think so, and guess what? It’s your move…
-Prayer
GO Further! – Personal Study Questions
1. Read Acts 17:26-28. Examine your life as it is currently. How has God “strategically placed” you there? Take time and list ALL the ways that you can serve God where you are at right now.
2. God orders our movements, and our stops! Read Ecclesiastes 3:11. Write out a letter of thanks to Your Heavenly Father for the hope you have received from understanding that even in this period of waiting, God is still using you for His glory! This process of writing it out may be more beneficial than you think.
