Redeeming the Waiting Room
We say we believe in patience, yet we bristle at every delay, living like “microwave people with a slow-cooker God.” But what if waiting isn’t wasted time? What if red lights, long lines, unanswered prayers, and slow seasons are sacred spaces where God forms us? Scripture reminds us we are not our own; our time, like our lives, belongs to the Lord. That means even our waiting is a stewardship.
The Bible frames life as management under God’s authority, and that includes seasons that feel like His waiting room. David writes, “I waited and waited for the Lord,” capturing the exhaustion of long delays and deep uncertainty. Yet it was in that pit, with no firm ground beneath him, that God lifted him up and set his feet on a rock. Waiting didn’t derail God’s work in David—it prepared him for it.
The early church understood this through practices like intentional waiting—arriving early to pray, turning delays into moments of attention toward God. When we wait well, three things happen: patience is formed, our focus shifts from frustration to trust, and we become attentive to God’s voice. Waiting forces us to stop, and in stopping, we hear. Hurry dulls our souls; stillness sharpens them.
Isaiah promises that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. In a culture obsessed with speed, patient people quietly testify to another way of life. This year, don’t rush past your delays—embrace them. Steward your waiting, and let God use it to shape you. After all, to follow Christ is, in many ways, to learn how to wait—and to find God faithful there.
Ice Breaker Question: What's the longest you've ever had to wait for something? How did you handle it?
Sermon Overview
This week's message challenged us to view waiting not as wasted time, but as a stewardship opportunity. Pastor Tim reminded us that we are "bought with a price" and everything in our lives—including our waiting seasons—belongs to God. Rather than rushing through life, we're called to ruthlessly eliminate hurry and learn to wait well on the Lord.
Key Scripture:
Psalm 40:1 - "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry."
Discussion Questions
- The sermon expanded stewardship beyond just finances to include marriage, parenting, time, our bodies, and even waiting. Which area of stewardship do you find most challenging? Why?
- Pastor Tim asked us to identify "the area of your life where you are least like Jesus right now." If you're comfortable sharing, what came to mind for you? How might God want to work on that area this year?
- Read Psalm 40:1 together. The original language says "I waited and waited and waited." Can you share about a time when you felt like you were waiting endlessly for God to answer? What was that experience like?
- The early church practiced "stasis"—intentionally arriving early to appointments to pray. How might this practice change your approach to waiting? What would it look like to build intentional waiting into your schedule?
- The sermon identified three things that happen when we wait:
- We develop patience
- We focus on God
- We pay attention
- Which of these three do you struggle with most when you're in a waiting season? Why?
- The story about the man trapped under a building in Haiti for nine days is powerful. He said his biggest need was water, but his spiritual response was "I waited on the Lord." What does this extreme example teach us about waiting in our less dramatic circumstances?
- Dallas Willard said the most important step toward spiritual maturity is to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry." Why do you think hurry is such a barrier to spiritual growth? What does hurry do to our relationship with God?
- Pastor Tim said, "You will never be like Jesus in a hurry." How does this statement challenge our culture's values? How does it challenge your personal life?
- Discuss the practical suggestions given:
- Get in the longest grocery line
- Drive the speed limit
- Choose the slowest lane in traffic
- What's your honest reaction to these suggestions? Which one would be hardest for you to actually do?
10. Where are you currently in a waiting season? This could be:
- Waiting for a medical diagnosis
- Waiting for a relationship to heal
- Waiting for a job opportunity
- Waiting for a prodigal to return
- Waiting for clarity on a decision
- Waiting for the Lord's return
Key Takeaways
- Waiting is not wasted time—it's a stewardship. God holds us accountable for how we use our waiting seasons.
- We are all waiters. As Christians, waiting is part of our identity. We're waiting for Christ's return and for God to answer our prayers.
- Waiting produces patience, helps us focus on God, and teaches us to pay attention to what He's doing.
- Hurry is the enemy of spiritual maturity. We must ruthlessly eliminate it from our lives.
- Waiting well is a testimony. When we wait with patience and trust, people notice and want to know what's different about us.
Practical Application
Individual Commitments
Choose at least one of these to practice this week:
Level 1 (Beginner):
- [ ] Drive the speed limit for one week
- [ ] Intentionally choose the longest line at the store once this week
- [ ] Arrive 10 minutes early to one appointment and spend that time in prayer
- [ ] Practice "stasis" by arriving early to all appointments this week to pray
- [ ] Identify one area where you're rushing and intentionally slow down
- [ ] Set aside 15 minutes daily for silence and listening to God
- [ ] Fast from multi-tasking for one day—do one thing at a time
- [ ] Take a half-day Sabbath this week to simply stop and listen to God
- [ ] Journal daily about what God is teaching you in your current waiting season
Pair up with someone in the group who will check in with you this week about your commitment.
Prayer Focus
Break into groups of 2-3 and pray specifically for:
- Those in difficult waiting seasons - that they would not waste their waiting but would steward it well
- The elimination of hurry from our lives - that we would ruthlessly cut out the things that keep us rushing
- Patience and trust - that we would learn to wait on the Lord with faith, even when answers don't come quickly
- Testimony through waiting - that our patient waiting would cause others to ask what's different about us
Closing Challenge
This Week's Focus: Pay attention to every moment you feel rushed or impatient. When you notice it, stop and say: "Lord, I'm waiting on You. What do You want to teach me in this moment?"
Memory Verse:
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry." - Psalm 40:1
Facilitator Notes
- Be sensitive to those who may be in genuinely painful waiting seasons (illness, grief, unemployment, etc.). Don't minimize their struggles with platitudes.
- Share your own struggles with waiting and hurry. Vulnerability from the leader helps others open up.
- Keep the conversation practical. The application section is crucial—help people identify concrete steps they can take.
- Don't rush through the guide! It's okay if you don't get through every question. Model the sermon's message by not hurrying through your group time.
- Follow up during the week with anyone who shared a particularly difficult waiting season.
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