Today someone asked me how I was doing, and my reply to them was this, “I am in the waiting room of life.” It pretty much sums up my feelings on things. Every person waits on something or someone.

I think we are to be like Jesus. I/We are to be His hands, His feet, His mouth, His heart, His love, His help, His kindness, His patience, His forgiveness, His joy, His compassion, His encouragement; to those around us. His children are waiting on Him. We are waiting for Him to either take us in death and carry us home, or to return and catch us away. This earthly life we are living is our “waiting room.”

In Galatians 6:2, we read: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” How do we go about carrying a burden for someone else? One way is by being an encourager to those who are struggling.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.” Sometimes just a word of encouragement can change a person’s day or week, it can warm a heart and soul to know that someone cares.
1 Peter 4:10 tells us, that we need to use whatever gifts we have to serve others. I/We need to administer God’s grace to those around us.
Prayer is a very important something we can do for someone.
James 5:16 says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Prayer is a BIG DEAL!

If we spend our time in our waiting room helping and serving others, it makes the time pass more pleasantly. Our focus should not be on ourselves and the next whatever. We should be living spiritual lives, sacrificial lives, putting the needs of others before our own.
Philippians 2:3-4 says it this way: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.” Are you esteeming yourself? If all you ever focus on is self…You have become the idol where you worship and spend your time. We have an example in Jesus of what the ultimate burden-bearer did.

Jesus WAS and Is the ultimate burden bearer. He took our sins upon himself. Every vile and evil act you and I have done, Jesus bore upon the cross. We who have been born-again will never feel the punishment for our sins that we deserve. Jesus suffered and died on a cruel cross the most painful death for us. He who knew no sin became sin for us.
Isaiah 53:4-5, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed.”

While Jesus walked this earth, He was never self-centered and about himself. Every day was lived in obedience to the Father. Each day was sacrificial. Even though His time in this earthy “waiting room” was short, He still carried out the will of His Father, obedient even to death. Jesus is our ultimate example of what our lives should look like. Not one of us is perfect, we don’t get it right all the time, but God knows our hearts and sees our efforts and is pleased when we do those things that He calls us to, those things that push us past ourselves.

Since we have no choice but to wait, why not do it in such a way that brings joy, help, encouragement, and love to another. God gives us opportunities each day to show His love to others. He will put someone in your path and say, “I choose you!” It isn’t always a hard task, sometimes just a smile or kind word will do nicely. As we bear their burdens, He will send someone to help us along our way.

I don’t know about you, but while I am in this waiting room of life I want to invest my time, my help, my prayers in bearing the burdens of others. I want to be an encourager, a prayer warrior. I want to be Jesus to those around me in tangible ways. I know there have been many times, even recent ones, that if it were not for the prayers and encouragement of others, my burden would weigh me down to the point I would just want to sit and cry, but it hasn’t. I am still smiling and full of joy. I live in hope, and my heart is full. All because others have helped me bear my burdens. They have encouraged me, prayed with and for me, even shed tears with me, I could not do this life, this waiting room without them, and certainly not without Jesus!

I am a visual thinker, so when I envision what my “waiting room” looks like, it is this: “Full of sunlight/Son-light, flowers on the wall, my favorite song playing softly, my husband, my children and grandchildren by my side, my dog at my feet and a whole host of friends to keep me going. There are sounds of laughter coming from various places, and the sweet fellowship of believers is everywhere. My “waiting room” isn’t fancy, just warm and inviting.” Come on in!

I do not know how long I will be in this waiting room, only God does, but while I am here waiting, I will be busy bearing another’s burden when called upon to do so. And because I am mine won’t feel so heavy! I so want my life to reflect the ONE who gave His life for me. I want to hear my Father say, “WELL DONE!” I will decorate my “waiting room” with anyone and everyone God sends my way!