Living In The White Space

The other day, I went to my doctor’s appointment. The instructions said, “Please arrive 15 minutes early.” So I did.

Then I sat. And sat. And sat some more. Thirty minutes after my scheduled time, they finally called me back. By now I was convinced they weren’t running in the same time zone I was.

And here’s the kicker: their internet was down. None of the tests could be run. They took my blood pressure manually (with that squeaky cuff from 1978) and sent me home. That was it. I rearranged my day, waited nearly an hour, and left with nothing but a sore arm.

But as I was grumbling to myself, the Lord whispered: “Waiting isn’t wasted when I’m working.”

Joseph: The Original “Waiting Room” Champion

Genesis 40:23–41:1… Just two verses…tells us that Joseph interpreted dreams for Pharaoh’s officials. He even asked the cupbearer to remember him once he got out. But Scripture says, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. When two full years had passed…”

Two verses… Two years. That white space in my Bible between those two verses represented two years of waiting while God was working.

God was setting the stage. Pharaoh hadn’t dreamed his dream yet. The famine hadn’t come. The nations weren’t ready. What looked like silence was actually divine scheduling.

God told me, “Right now… you’re living in the white space. While you’re waiting… I’m still working.”

The Israelites’ River Delay

Then today, the Lord took me to Joshua 3. In verses 2–5, Israel was finally at the Jordan River after 40 years of wandering. They could practically smell the milk and honey. But before they crossed, they had to wait three days. Then Joshua told the people: “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

Translation: “Yes, we’re at the water’s edge, but you’ve got to wait four days.”

Can you picture the Israelites? “Joshua, are you serious? We’ve got our bags packed, sandals laced, kids whining, camels loaded—what do you mean, ‘wait’?”

But waiting wasn’t wasted. God was aligning the miracle.  God was preparing to pile up the water 25 miles back up the Jordan River near a town called Adam so they could  cross the river on dry ground.

Lessons from the Doctor’s Office

So back to me, sitting in the waiting room:

• I showed up early, but it didn’t speed anything up.

• I waited longer than expected, but that didn’t mean my time was wasted.

• And sometimes, apparently, a doctor’s office is a blog illustration just waiting to happen.

God reminded me: His timing doesn’t run on my schedule... or the clinic’s Wi-Fi. The waiting room is where He prepares us for what’s next.

While I’m Waiting…

Like me, maybe you’re waiting too. On results. On answers. On God to finish what He started.

Take it from Joseph, the Israelites, and one annoyed patient with a sore arm: God never wastes the waiting.

So while I’m waiting… I can listen and learn.

While I’m waiting… I can trust.

While I’m waiting… He’s still working.

Lord… if you’re still moving, I’m still waiting. If you’re still working, I’m still trusting.

Living in the white space…