在等候室裡感到不耐煩？
By Robert J. Tamasy
你喜歡等待嗎？如果喜歡，你是一個罕見的人。我們大多數人都發現等待是令人煩躁、沮喪甚至恐懼的重要原因。我們不喜歡等紅燈或塞車。當目標延後完成時，我們感到沮喪，想知道如何加快這個過程。坐在候診室看醫生或牙醫可以測試我們耐心的極限。
最近我不得不動一個大手術。按照指示我上午8:30前到達醫院，醫院告訴我手術在10:30開始，結果過了10:30，我和太太還在等。我盡量有耐心，但手術還是延後。最後，醫務人員找到我並開始了手術，那時已經是12:30了！
在職場，「等待」同樣令人不快。有時我們必須等某人完成才能繼續我們的工作，或者我們需要和老闆討論一個重大問題，但老闆晚上才能開會。此外，等待一份非常理想的工作機會也可能令人很痛苦。
對於那些跟隨耶穌基督的人，「等待」是上帝發展品格和幫助我們在信仰中成長的計劃的一部分。有時我們熱切祈禱的唯一答案就是「等」！有些人甚至提到，有時我們好像坐在「上帝的候診室」裡。
在聖經中我們看到很多人，上帝要他們等待，因為上帝對他們有特殊的計劃。亞伯拉罕和他的妻子撒拉不得不長年等待上帝許諾他們的孩子。出埃及記裡，雖然上帝已選擇摩西帶領以色列人離開埃及，但在正確的時間到來之前，摩西仍然流亡多年。然後以色列人必須在曠野「等待」40年才能進入應許之地。
人生的各個階段，我們都發現自己在上帝的候診室裡。在這些不可避免的時期，我們應該知道自己在等待什麼？要做些什麼事？聖經提供了有用的見解：
在等候時，相信上帝。當我們的生活和事業中停滯不前時，我們會盡一切可能讓事情有進展。然而，有時候，上帝只希望我們單單等待並相信祂掌權。「你們要休息，要知道我是 神！」（詩篇46篇10節）。
盡我們所能，但如果有必要，請等待。進入「上帝的候診室」並不一定意味著什麼都不做。也可能代表當我們完成了自己認為應該完成的一切時，就必須等待上帝完成其餘的事情。「你當倚靠耶和華而行善，住在地上，以他的信實為糧；又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。他要使你的公義如光發出，使你的公平明如正午。你當默然倚靠耶和華，耐性等候他；不要因那道路通達的和那惡謀成就的心懷不平。你當等候耶和華，遵守他的道，他就抬舉你，使你承受地土；惡人被剪除的時候，你必看見。」（詩篇37篇3-7,34節）。
當上帝按下你生命中的「暫停按鈕」時，要有信心。當被迫等待時，我們可能會變得氣餒，甚至懷疑上帝是否忘記了我們以及我們所需要的。但其實，這是一個機會幫助我們更加信靠祂，看看祂會做甚麼遠超出我們想像的大事。「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。」（箴言3章5-6節）。
© 2018. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy. blogspot.com.
反省與問題討論
在等待時，你的典型反應是什麼？在什麼情況下你覺得等待最困難？ 現在有什麼事物是需要你等待的嗎？在「候診室」裡，你如何自處？ 你認為上帝為什麼希望我們等待，而不是立即回應我們的祈禱？你有沒有想過，「必須等待」實際上是祂回應你的請求的一部分？ 你會如何建議那些發現自己在「上帝候診室」裡的人，他們拼命想要解決一個問題，但卻沒有看到任何答案？
備註: 如果您手上有聖經，希望知道更多關於這個主題的經文，請參考:
詩篇27篇14節
27:14要等候耶和華！當壯膽，堅固你的心！我再說，要等候耶和華！
詩篇130篇5-6節
130:5我等候耶和華，我的心等候；我也仰望他的話。
130:6我的心等候主，勝於守夜的，等候天亮，勝於守夜的，等候天亮。
以賽亞書26章3節
26:3堅心倚賴你的，你必保守他十分平安，因為他倚靠你。
以賽亞書41篇10節
41:10你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的 神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。
耶利米書 29篇11-13節
29:11耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。
29:12你們要呼求我，禱告我，我就應允你們。
29:13你們尋求我，若專心尋求我，就必尋見。
耶利米書 33章3節
你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。
腓立比書4章6-7節
4:6應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴 神。
4:7神所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裏保守你們的心懷意念。
FEELING IMPATIENT IN THE “WAITING ROOM”?
By Robert J. Tamasy
Do you like having to wait? If you do, you are a rare individual. Most of us find waiting a great source of annoyance, frustration, even fear. We do not like waiting for a traffic light to change or finding ourselves stuck in traffic. When goals are delayed, we feel dismayed, wondering how we can speed the process. Sitting in the waiting room to see a doctor or dentist can test the limits of our patience.
Recently I had to undergo a significant medical procedure. I arrived at the hospital before 8:30 a.m., as instructed, and was informed the procedure would begin by 10:30. But 10:30 came – and went – and my wife and I were still waiting. I tried not to get impatient, but eventually asked about the delay. Finally, the medical staff got to me and started the procedure, but it was not until 12:30!
Waiting is just as unpleasant in a workplace context. Sometimes we must wait on someone before we can proceed with our part of a project. We need to discuss a major issue to discuss with our boss, but she cannot see us until later in the day. Waiting on a much-desired job offer can be agonizing.
For those who follow Jesus Christ, waiting is part of God”s plan for developing character and helping us grow in our faith. Sometimes the only answer to our fervent prayers is, “Wait!” Some people have even referred to such times as being in “God”s waiting room.”
We see many examples in the Bible of people God required to wait, even though He had special plans for them. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had to wait many years for the child that God had promised them. The Lord had chosen Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but Moses still had to spend many years in exile before the right time arrived. Then the people of Israel had to “wait” 40 years in the wilderness before they could enter the Promised Land.
Sooner or later, we all find ourselves in God”s waiting room. What should we know about waiting – and what should we do during these unavoidable times? The Scriptures offer helpful insights:
Trust in the One in whom we must wait. When things come to a standstill in our lives and careers, we attempt to do anything possible to get things moving again. Sometimes, however, God wants us simply to wait and trust that He is in control. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Do all that we can, but then, if necessary, wait. Being in “God”s waiting room” does not necessarily mean doing nothing. It does mean when we have done everything we think should be done, we must wait for God to accomplish the rest. “Trust in the Lord and do good…. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…. Wait for the Lord and keep his way…” (Psalm 37:3-7,34).
When God hits the “pause button” in your life, draw on your faith. When forced to wait, we can become discouraged and even wonder if God has forgotten about us and what we need. This is an opportunity to strengthen our faith in Him and see what He will do, often far more than we could have imagined. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
© 2018. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What is your typical response when you have to wait? In what circumstances do you find waiting most difficult? Is there something right now that is requiring you to wait? How are you responding to being in the “waiting room”? Why do you think God would want us to wait, instead of answering our prayers immediately? Can you think of any times when it turned out that having to wait actually was part of His answer to your requests? How would you advise someone else who finds themselves in God”s waiting room, desperately wanting a problem resolved but not seeing any answers forthcoming?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Psalm 27:14, 130:5-6; Isaiah 26:3, 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11-13, 33:3; Philippians 4:6-7
