Lessons learned in the waiting … at Walgreens.

My annoying summer cold turned into something antibiotic-worthy last week, which landed me at Walgreens (a pharmacy chain in the US for those readers from elsewhere) to pick up a prescription. The nice pharmacy lady asked if I’d be waiting for it or coming back later. “I’ll wait”, I said. I was already miserable. Why prolong it?

A short while later I was home, praying that the pills would work miracles and I’d be able to breathe again without coughing up a lung. And that’s when I noticed the bag the medicine came in. Stamped across the top of it was one word.

“WAITING”.

Seems that if the pharmacy folks know you’re standing there instead of going back home, they might just count out your pills a little more quickly.

And I found myself looking at that bag and smiling, thinking how great it would be if our prayers could be dropped off at the customer service window in heaven, and as long as we said we were “waiting”, they’d be answered more quickly.

But of course, that’s not the way God works. He doesn’t need to us to tell Him how to prioritize answers. He doesn’t need us to remind Him that we’re waiting. He already knows.

And He knows that the waiting has a purpose in His plan. He doesn’t slip our requests to the bottom of the pile, or close up the store at 9:00pm. He doesn’t answer someone else’s prayers first because mine aren’t important enough.

It’s still OK if my requests have the word “WAITING” stamped on them. I think it’s Biblical to tell God we’re waiting. David did it all the time in the Psalms. We just need to remind ourselves that we’re not just waiting – we’re waiting on God. And He’ll answer in His perfect time.

And who knows? Maybe He’ll slip a little extra blessing into the bag as a reward.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1