Waiting Room Principles

When we're in the "waiting room" of life, wondering when God's promises are going to come to pass or when our prayers are going to be answered and our desires met, it can get frustrating, discouraging and disappointing. We may get confused, doubtful of God's intentions, and distracted. Youth Leader's Coach, Jeanne Mayo, shares biblical insight as to how we need to posture and position ourselves during these uncertain times.

Principle One

You can often get exactly what your heart is yearning for right where you are, IF you stand up on the inside and go after it

Satan works hard to get us to believe that happiness, contentment, fulfilment, love, purpose, direction, peace, hope and everything else that's good, is on the outside. We always think the grass is greener on the other side. But then when we get there, our expectations are not met. Happiness is actually an inside job. It starts now, not when we get that job or that partner or that amount of money or that house, car or possession. 

Don't have a defeatist attitude and whine or complain. Just go out there and grab it! 

Principle Two

Celebrating someone or something in our present is often the key to something amazing in our future

Inventory the good things in our lives - I'm whole, I can walk. I have health...Give ourselves to someone or something in our present situation. Wherever we are, we can look around and find someone who has needs we can help meet in a practical way (to represent Christ to that person). Focus on what we are capable of in the here and now. Focus on what we do have, not what we don't. Make the best out of the present. If we will faithfully serve now, the faithfulness will unlock the door to our future. God will honour us as we honour Him and His people, and He will open the floodgates to blessing into our lives so we can be a blessing to others.

Principle Three

We can begin to develop the character traits, in our present, that are going to be needed in our future

Joseph chose to persevere when he was sold to be a slave by his very own brothers. He chose to trust God and not be offended when he got thrown into prison, falsely accused. Joseph chose to act in a way that reflected his destiny; that reflected the person God showed Joseph he would become. God was able to promote Joseph and accomplish great things in and through his life because Joseph chose to partner and be matured in character at every stage. 

A title can never give us true authority. Our character does. If I want to be a mum, I shouldn't be waiting to have two or three biological children to call me that to be one. I can be a mum or big sister to young women in my life. To girls God brings my way. I need not wait for the "perfect" circumstance or set of talents to come about for me to step into my calling. 

Resentment (bearing a grudge or keeping score) allows someone who has hurt us to live rent-free in our minds - it prevents us from moving forward freely. Our time in the waiting room will be easier if we don't let envy, jealousy and offence creep in. We don't need to shrivel up and let bitterness, martyrdom and depression eat us alive. We can live with a Christ-honouring attitude. 

The JOY of the Lord is our strength!
(And while we're at it, we can laugh at funny stories written by other people. In this case, Karen Cheng)

In the waiting room, when we don't have the textbook spiritual answers, we can choose to play out our lives to a darkened existence. We can play a symphony of love and obedience, and when the devil tries to plant doubt in our minds, telling us we're stupid and there's no hope because nothing will ever change, play all the more. When minutes become hours, hours become days, weeks, months and even years, play harder because God wants us to succeed and is on our side, backing us up. He just looks for us to believe in Him. His joy will come. Jesus does not see a crowd but approaches and cares for us as unique individuals.

Thank you, Shin Yee, for buying this DVD for me from this year's Hillsong Colour Conference.