Waiting. How much time does the average person spend doing it? It’s impossible to nail down, because it depends on how you define it. I did some quick searching and here are some sample results.
The average person spends five years of their lifetime waiting in lines and queues
The average American spends 37 hours waiting in line each year, 13 hours on hold, and 38 hours stuck in traffic.
A Duolingo/OnePoll survey found the average person loses about 26 days per year to wasted time, roughly 12 hours a week.
Americans wait an average of 20 minutes a day for public transit, 32 minutes at the doctor, and 28 minutes in airport security lines.
Whatever the real number is, I think we can agree that we all spend a lot of time waiting. Much of what feels like waiting time is waiting on God. Answers to prayer seem slow in coming. Our circumstances don’t change. Things don’t get easier. Our healing isn’t coming.
These waiting times have often been called “God’s waiting room.” That might some a little cliché, but there is truth in it.
God doesn’t operate on our timing. Much of what we think is wasted time is being used by God to strengthen our faith and grow us.
The Bible repeatedly reminds us of that truth.
Hope in Yahweh; be strong, and let your heart take courage; hope in Yahweh. Psalm 27:14
Yet those who hope in Yahweh Will gain new power; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31
Hold fast in the waiting time. God is still God when we don’t see His hand. He remains God when we have unanswered questions. He will never leave us or forsake us.
He knows what we need and is best at providing in it. Walk in faith. The LORD has you in His hands.
Praise His name.
Be blessed
Kevin
SUMMARY
Waiting is an unavoidable part of life — and much of it feels like waiting on God. But Scripture reminds us that time spent waiting is never wasted when God is using it to strengthen faith and shape character.
KEY POINTS:
We spend enormous amounts of time waiting, and much of our spiritual life involves waiting on God — for answered prayer, changed circumstances, and healing.
God doesn’t operate on our timetable; what feels like delay is often His purposeful work of growing and strengthening us.
Scripture calls us to hope in Yahweh, take courage, and walk in faith — trusting that He holds us, knows our needs, and will never leave or forsake us.
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