God prepares us for life in the waiting room of life
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. New International Version
Luke 1:28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. New International Version
Luke 1:30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. New International Version
Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” New International Version
Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. New International Version
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. New International Version
Luke 2:51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. New Living Translation
Three Reasons We Wait in God’s Waiting Room
1. Waiting can be a timing issue
Galatians 4:4 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law 5 so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Message Bible
Three Reasons We Wait in God’s Waiting Room
1. Waiting can be a timing issue
Ecclesiastes 3:11 God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing. New Century Version
Three Reasons We Wait in God’s Waiting Room
2. Waiting can be a battle issue
Daniel 10:12 Then he said, “Don’t be frightened, Daniel, for your request has been heard in heaven and was answered the very first day you began to fast before the Lord and pray for understanding; that very day I was sent here to meet you. The Living Bible
Daniel 10:13 But for twenty-one days the mighty Evil Spirit who overrules the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the top officers of the heavenly army, came to help me, so that I was able to break through these spirit rulers of Persia. The Living Bible
Three Reasons We Wait in God’s Waiting Room
3. Waiting is a growth issue
Romans 8:24 That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. 25 But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. The Message Bible
Five things to do in God’s Waiting Room
1. Keep Serving
1 Corinthians 15:58 ...Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. New Living Translation
John 12:26 …The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me. The Message Bible
Five things to do in God’s Waiting Room
2. Keep Connecting (Hebrews 10:25)
Five things to do in God’s Waiting Room
3. Keep Obeying
John 14:21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” New Living Translation
Five things to do in God’s Waiting Room
4. Keep Doing
Luke 16:10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. New Living Translation
Five things to do in God’s Waiting Room
5. Keep Praying & Thanking (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 5:20)