#441: Why Do I Feel Helpless and Hopeless Stuck in God’s Waiting Room?

I hate waiting!

Just the other day, I had a dentist appointment, so I was already on edge. I arrived 5 minutes early for my 9:00 am appointment, checked in, and was told to have a seat in the waiting room.

9:00 am rolls around, and I am still sitting there. Waiting. 9:01. 9:02. 9:03. 9:04. I am busying myself clearing email on my phone while I wait impatiently, my frustration growing by the second.

Finally! I get called in at 9:05! The young technician who is to clean my teeth has no idea of the trauma she has inflicted on me by being 5 minutes late!

With my teeth cleaning complete, I was freed from the dentist’s chair 5 minutes early. Happily, I was able to shake off the trauma of waiting those five minutes and go on to have a productive day.

The episode at the dentist’s office was not that disastrous in the grand scheme of things. But there have been occasions when the time spent waiting made me feel helpless, confused, and spiritually empty.

One such time is when Barb and I were trying to have children. Doctor visits, medications, and tests, for years—all for nothing. Years of trying to have children left us feeling helpless, confused, and even mad at God.

Then there was the time when we decided to adopt a child. We had to jump through legal hoops for over a year as we waited to have our first adoption approved. Once approved, we waited for what seemed like an eternity for our baby boy to arrive from India.

We entered God’s waiting room again when we attempted to adopt our second child. The private adoption was called off, then on again several times.

God, why are you doing this to us? 

Finally, the wait was over. The beautiful little girl who became our daughter was born and came home with us.

I have learned to deal with the daily frustrations like being stuck in a doctor’s waiting room, or of waiting for the traffic to clear, or my lunch order to arrive.

But what I struggle with that makes me feel helpless, confused, and even spiritually empty is when I am stuck in God’s waiting room. When the situation is beyond my control, and I just have to wait.

God’s Waiting Room

The Scripture is full of examples of men and women in a variety of situations spending years or even decades in God’s waiting room!

• Noah waited over a year for the rains to come and then spent five months after it stopped raining, waiting for the waters to recede after the flood.
• Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for God’s promise of a son.
• Joseph waited over 20 years, suffering in slavery and prison before he was made second in command to Pharoah, and God’s promise was realized.
• Moses waited 40 years in the desert before God’s call to lead the people out of Egypt, and then another 40 years before seeing the Promised Land.
• Hannah waited 19 years for God’s promise that she would have a child.
• Elizabeth waited decades before her promised son, John, was born.
• Job waited years before God restored what he had lost.
• The apostles waited for 50-days between Jesus’ death on the cross and when the promised Holy Spirit appeared on Pentecost.

Every one of these people was in God’s waiting room for months, years, or even decades. I imagine at times they all felt helpless and hopeless, and at some point, maybe even mad at God.

But God delivered on every promise He made. Maybe not on the timing they wanted, perhaps not in the way they expected, but He delivered.

The fact that God delivers on His promises is the important thing to remember.

Keep These 4 Things in Mind

Here are four things to keep in mind when we find ourselves stuck in God’s waiting room.

1. God Is Patient

We get impatient waiting, but we need to remember that God is patient even when we are not.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).

2. God’s Timing is Not Our Timing

God’s timing is not our timing. God’s timing is perfect. He knows precisely the right time to bring your season of waiting to an end.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

3. God’s Plans Are Good

God has a plan, and His plans are for our good—even if we don’t understand them at the moment.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

4. Trust in God

When we are in God’s waiting room, and the end is not in sight, we need to trust in God and His promises.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

So, whether you are experiencing the momentary frustration of a doctor’s waiting room or of being in God’s waiting room for weeks, months, or even years, keep these four truths in mind:

• God is patient even when we are not.
• God’s timing is not our timing; His timing is perfect.
• God has plans for us, and His plans are good.
• God will make our path straight when we trust in Him!

More Articles

I have written several articles on our dependence on God. You can find them by typing “Dependence on God” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.

• #434: Will God Use Me Even If I’m Not Perfect?
• #421: Have You Ever Felt Hopelessly Lost Following God?
• #415: Do You Want to Live A Life of Impact and Purpose?
• #385: Is the Path You Are on the Right One?
• #365: Do You Lead Like an Owner or A Steward?

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. How have you dealt with time spent in God’s waiting room?

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Category: Personal Development | Dependence on God