Kim Wilbanks

Waiting is hard.  Waiting isn’t fun.  We want to know now, to be there now.  It’s simply not in our nature to be patient.

Where We Wait

Think about how often we have to wait.  We wait at traffic lights and on busy highways at a standstill.  We wait at doctor’s offices and then for results of tests.  We wait for our children.  We wait for people to come to our homes to repair things.  When I began thinking about what to write in this blog post, we were waiting to hear the results of a presidential election.  A winner was declared but now we have to wait for all of the legal challenges to be answered.  We spend a lifetime waiting.

Productive Waiting or Wasteful Waiting

There are many things you can do while you are waiting; some productive and some not so productive.  Years ago, before the advent of digital photography, I organized about ten years worth of photographs while my daughter was in dance class.  I would bring a box of photos to sort and label for the hour she was in class.  It took several months, but little by little, I got the job done.

More recently, I found myself unprepared for productive waiting.  I had to take my dog to the veterinarian for a checkup.  Due to COVID, the office was still doing curbside visits.  I parked my car in a numbered space, called the front desk and someone came to get my dog and take him in for his check-up.  Normally, a visit to the vet is fairly short, but, we know that this is not a normal year don’t we?  I sat waiting in my car for an hour and forty-five minutes.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t prepared, so I ended up playing games on my iPhone and checking out my social media.  Not a great use of my time.  I remembered to take a book I was reading to the next veterinarian appointment.

Seasons of Waiting

I find that having something constructive to do helps make the waiting a little easier.  In this week of waiting on the results of the presidential election, I have re-organized my closet and worked on a photo album.  I’ve also read my Bible and prayed — a lot.  Sitting glued to the news 24/7 is just not good for me.

It’s similar when there is a hurricane coming.  Doing something, even if it’s putting a puzzle together, helps ease the anxiety in waiting.  Watching the Weather Channel hours on end isn’t necessarily the best thing to do.

The Ultimate Wait

As a believer, there is something of utmost importance I am waiting for.  If you’re a believer too, you probably know what it is.  As believers, we wait for the return of Jesus Christ.  After his crucifixion and resurrection, he promised he would return for us and take us to be with him for eternity.  I have no reason not to believe this.  

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  John 14:1-3

But, what do we do while we wait?  We keep praying, studying scripture and watching the signs.  Most importantly, we keep working and living.  We keep sharing the good news of our hope in Jesus.  

I’m not very confident in talking to people because I’m very much an introvert.  It is easier for me to write the things I want to say.  I hope that the words I write in this little blog of mine will encourage you, especially while we are waiting.  Jesus really is coming back — it may be sooner than later.  We aren’t given a time.  I want you to be ready when He comes.  Won’t it be wonderful not to have to wait anymore?