Waiting

I don’t know anyone who likes to wait for anything. I certainly don’t. Ever since my treatments concluded on February 21, I’ve been waiting to find out the results. After a couple of months I was given a date for my follow-up PET scan (May 14) and an appointment to find out the results (May 16). But before I could count on those dates I had to see my Radiology Oncologist one more time to make sure my throat was healed enough to actually do the PET scan. I had that appointment today and everything is a go. Now I’m waiting till next Monday for the scan. The good news is I don’t have to wait quite as long for the results because I’ll be seeing my Dr. on the 15th (next day) instead of the 16th. But it’s all been waiting.

No one knows the real value of waiting more than God. Richard Foster in his classic, Celebration of Discipline” wrote, Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” That’s exactly what God wants for us, He wants us to be deep people. And waiting is one of the best ways for that to happen when we are able to wait in faith. But waiting in faith is not something that comes naturally to most people. Instead, worry often takes center stage and captivates our lives. But as one of my favorite preachers and authors says, “The difference between waiting and worrying is focus.” When our focus is on God then worry begins to disappear.

My Dr. reiterated to me today that the expectation is the PET scan will be clear. I love that about him, he has been positive and optimistic during the entire time I have seen him. If that’s the case I’ll have another scan 6 months later which means…more waiting. My prayer is that I’m going to get better at it as time goes by. One of the things that I will do to try and help make that happen is read the first two verses of Psalm 62 over and over again. My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. If waiting is a struggle for you then join me in this reading. And pray for me…I’ll be praying for you.

Jesus cares,
Pastor Chris