Originally written in September 2010, Deric’s words hold true a decade later.

I just heard Jonny Diaz’s “Waiting Room” on the radio for the first time.  With another major surgery approaching and the thought of hours waiting for the results, the lyrics immediately captured my attention:

Here in this waiting room yearning for You to say go
And though I’m convinced that a yes would be best
This time You’re telling me no

It’s not that I don’t have an answer
It’s just not the one that I’d like
But through this time Lord I must keep in mind
You’re always wiser than I

You have a much better purpose
And You have a far greater plan
And You have a bigger perspective
Cause You hold this world in your hands

The things that I seek are from You
Like the strong healing touch of your hand
But when You say no help me trust even though
There’s a reason I can’t understand

You have a much better purpose
And You have a far greater plan
And You have a bigger perspective
Cause You hold this world in your hands

When that miracle comes cause Your answer is yes
I will praise you for all of my days
But when Your wisdom declares that a no is best
I will praise You just the same

You have a much better purpose
And You have a far greater plan
And You have a bigger perspective
Cause You hold this world in your hands
You hold this world in your hands

I find this song to be both encouraging and challenging – particularly the verse that begins, “when that miracle comes…”  The first half of the verse is what I (and countless others) have been praying for more than seven years.  In that sense, our family and friends have been in the “waiting room” since 2003. We have no doubt that God has the power to answer that prayer through the “strong healing touch of (His) hand.”

The real challenge comes in the second half of that verse:  “But when Your wisdom declares that a no is best, I will praise You just the same.”  It is hard for us to imagine that a “no” could ever be best.  It can be even harder to imagine praising God in the face of such an answer, but He deserves our praise in any and all circumstances.In fact, each of us spends our entire life in the “waiting room,” wondering what God’s plan is and wrestling to discern His purpose for us, all the while struggling against it because we would prefer to think we know best.  A major event like a surgery or life-threatening illness only brings that reality to the fore.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.  Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.  Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. I Chronicles 29:11-13

As I sit in both the literal and figurative waiting room, I continue to pray:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14-15

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ” For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39

You hold this world in your hands.