“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25).

One of the verses that become my life motto is from John 15:4 that says:” Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

You might wonder, what does abiding in Christ have to do with waiting? I believe it means everything, because in waiting, our actions and attitudes are shaped. From childhood, we have experienced the pain, coldness, and uncertainty of waiting rooms. We long to grow quickly, to finish school, build a career, and embrace a vocation that brings both fulfillment and financial stability. We dream of the day we marry, hold our firstborn, and watch them grow into independent adults. We wait for healing from illness or for God to restore our broken families. We wait for revival in our churches. But how can we remain steady when outcomes are delayed and hope seems locked behind closed doors? How are we called to wait with an eternal perspective?

I believe that the first step in a waiting room is to completely surrender to God your wants, your desires, dreams and ambitions. Surrender to Him – Who can do all things, and no purpose of Him can be thwarted (Job 42:7). Bring to Him your fears and leave them at His feet, trusting He will bring favorable outcomes to every situation you placed before Him. I know waiting and trusting won’t come easy to us. Our human nature urges us to “help” God, as Sarah did in the Bible, by manipulating our circumstances and shorten our waiting room time.

The desire to be in control is deeply ingrained in our nature. When I first went through a car wash, I found it difficult to put the car in ‘neutral.’ The attendant had to remind me several times to take my hands off the wheel. It was challenging because I didn’t trust the machines to move my car on their own. I had to learn to let go and accept that I’m not self-sufficient. This lesson applies to many other areas of life as well.

Do you know what happens when you fully surrender your will—and every aspect of your life—to God? You begin to worship and praise Him like never before. Remaining in Him is not a passive state; it is an intentional pause focused on prayer, active obedience, and embracing the truth of His word. Like David, you learn to thirst for Him in a dry, weary land with no water and enemies pursuing you. This journey leads you to a place of deep trust and a renewed faith. From this vantage point, you can truly declare, “You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy” (Psalm 63:7).

A second step in our waiting room is to ask God for a mindset focused on learning patience and a heart full of joy. We will only feel miserable if we keep tapping our feet and staring at the clock. Instead of rolling our eyes over our plans, let’s embrace the truth that God’s timing is always perfect. Charles Spurgeon once said,”If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts”.

I was reading through Psalms as part of my devotional plan. One day, after finishing Psalm 1, I returned to my household chores. While washing dishes, with a heavy heart, I quietly reminded God of the changes I long to see in my children—changes I have prayed for tirelessly and spoken about with so much hope. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the psalm I had just read, especially verse 3: “He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season.” In that moment, it was as if a veil was lifted from my eyes, and my perspective shifted. I found myself looking directly into my backyard, at my trees and blooming flowers. It was spring—a season of new life and fresh beginnings.

It felt as if Christ was asking me, “Otilia, can you find joy in the buds, even just a little? Or will you only celebrate once the flowers bloom and the fruit ripens? Right away? Haven’t you noticed the small changes already happening in your children? The transformations I am bringing into their lives—the fact that they lie less, read their Bibles more often without being told, and are happier when you prepare for church perhaps even for the third time this week?”

“Have you noticed how deeply they are hurt when they upset you, unable to move on or go to bed until they come asking for forgiveness? Have you seen the buds—the tiny new growths on the stems? Can you be satisfied with them for this season? I could barely speak, tears falling in the same steady rhythm as the water washing my dishes. I understood then. I thanked Him, knowing that in due time, these buds will flourish and grow into trees planted by streams of water. Rooted in Christ, the fountain of living waters, they will become beautiful, strong, well-nourished, and fruitful trees.

So, may I invite you to pause and observe your waiting room?—do you see the small changes happening? Can you find joy in these moments? Are you aware of and appreciating the subtle signs of growth in your family and life? Have you noticed gentle shifts in your husband’s, wife’s, or children’s attitudes? Is your waiting filled with joy and trust in Him? Are you uplifting your spouse, children, or coworkers? Do you celebrate the positive progress you witness in your classmates, colleagues, or fellow believers?

If you cherish the buds, keep nurturing them as you have—water them with your fervent prayers and love them deeply by bringing them daily before God. It is there they grow; His Word brings joy to their hearts and transforms their minds. Their roots will grow strong and deep, and the fruit they bear will be well worth the wait.