The Waiting Room

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Job 1:13-22, 42:12

Job was probably the most famous man on earth. He was extremely wealthy - the best of the best. Yet Job lost it all. Not only did he lose everything, he was also surrounded by carnal, judgmental friends, and even his wife urged him to curse God and die. Job quickly found himself in God’s waiting room. Some of you may be able to identify with Job because you are waiting to hear from God!

In the Waiting Room you will experience three things:

The Difficulties Of The Waiting Room.
The Instructions For The Waiting Room
The Discoveries In The Waiting Room

I.   The Difficulties Of The Waiting Room

It is always hard to wait, and especially when you’re waiting on God. We all want God to give us everything right now! But in the Waiting Room you will find that:

(a)   You can’t see what is going on. Faith is believing that God is at work even when we can’t see His hand moving on our behalf.

(b)   You usually do not understand what’s going on. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are not spiritual or that something is terribly wrong - even though this may be the case with some people. God has sovereignly chosen not to explain the "why’s" and “where’s” of the Waiting Room.

(c)   You can’t control what is going on. No circumstance is ever out of the bounds of God’s control. He often permits us to be in situations that require us to look to Him and depend on Him alone. Self sufficiency is an enemy of faith.

(d)   It is a place of many delays. Sometimes for an extended period of time. You must remind yourself that God is never late. And that God’s greatest work ‘in and through’ you will be done "soon." This is genuine expectation for a quick outcome based on a complete trust in God.

(e)   It is not a very comfortable place. The greatest truths in life are often learned in the difficult and dark places.

(f)   It is often a stressful place. A place of worry and anxiety. "Worry" tries to convince you that God does not care or is not able.

II.   The Instructions For The Waiting Room

God gives instructions and directions for being in the waiting room. They are:

(a)   Trust the one who is in charge! That’s why you are here! Job 13:15, "Though the Lord slay me, still will I trust Him." Job 42:2, "I know that You can do everything.." Job 41:33, “Upon the earth there is none like Him." Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge…" Active, "…and strength…" Able, "…a very present help in trouble…" Available!

(b)   Stay close to Him. Job 42:5, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You." Don’t desert the Waiting Room. This is where you are most likely to hear from God, and “see His face.”

(c)   Keep praying. Job 42:1-5 God doesn’t do His deepest work in the shallowest part of our lives. So get alone with God for a time of reflection, evaluation, correction, and dedication.

(d)   Be still! Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." Literally, "Let your hands hang down." You may want to do something, but God may need to do something in you. Before God can do anything special for you or through you, you must be “still.”.

(e)   Anticipate a response. Job 42:10. "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job..." Psalm 46:10, "I will be exalted among the heathen. I will be exalted in the earth." God did not leave Job in the Waiting Room.

III.   The Discoveries In The Waiting Room

In Job’s case, he discovered or found:

(a)   A new perspective, "And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words to Job…” Note also, Romans 5:3-5, and 8:18. God gave Job a new perspective, one he would never have had if he had abandoned the Waiting Room.

(b)   A new provision. Job 42:10, "And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before..." In God’s waiting room Paul found Joy, Philippians 1:4, Purpose, Philippians 3:14, Peace, Philippians 4:7, Power, Philippians 4:13, and Plenty, Philippians 4:19.

(c)   A New Proximity (Nearness to God). Job 42:5, "…But now …my eyes see You…" The difficulties of the Waiting Room drove Job to the very feet of God where he discovered a new nearness, a new intimacy, a new dimension of his relationship with God. Something he would have never known otherwise.

Conclusion: If you find yourself in God’s Waiting Room… Trust Him – Stay Close to Him – Pray Fervently – Be Still. And, get ready for some awesome discoveries and experiences.

Chris Demetriou, 06/12/2009