Day 37 — Waiting is the Green Room of the Kingdom

John 5:5-6

One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

We encountered our paralysed friend in John 5 yesterday, who had positioned himself in anticipation of an encounter.  As we read on in the story, there are a couple of facts that further focus our thinking.  Number one, we understand that he had been paralysed for 38 years.  Number two, we understand from Jesus’ summary that this man had been here a long time.  He had been waiting a long time.  He was in the right place, but was still waiting for the right time!

Waiting is not the most exciting, crowd-pleasing, hype-generating activity.  It’s not the stuff of great adventures and great exploits, and yet it is significant in so many biblical stories.  The Bible is peppered with stories of waiting. Abraham, waiting 25 years for the fulfilment of God’s promise.  Joseph waiting in prison for his deliverance.  Moses in the desert for 40 years in relative isolation, and then for another 40 years with the Israelites.  Esther waiting for the moment of her positioning for purpose, Hannah waiting in the hope of conception and so on. The New Testament starts with the stories of Anna and Simeon’s waiting in anticipation of the hope that holds their heart, and Jesus tells a number of stories about the principle of waiting.

I’ve been using Zoom a lot recently and have found myself a number of times in the virtual lobby waiting to be admitted.  It can feel a frustrating waste of time, and a place of stress and self-doubt, as to whether I have connected properly and whether I am in the right place at the right time, and wondering if anyone else is here.  Then comes the moment of admittance, the curtains go up and we find ourselves admitted to virtual community.

Waiting can be hard but waiting is key to the conditioning of our hearts and our environment.  Waiting is the green room of the kingdom, the lobby within which we are prepared and made ready for the encounter that is just around the corner.

Prayer – Heavenly Father, thank you that I do not need to know what the future holds only that you hold it.  Help me to be patient in waiting as I seek to trust you.  

Sam Miller
Open Doors