Patience and Quiet Faith: How God Meets Us in Life's Waiting Rooms

Patience is a sacred surrender. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons of the year… nature’s invitation to slow down. But for caregivers, this quiet can feel more like uncertainty than rest. So much of caregiving is waiting for answers, for healing, for next steps we cannot see.

The Test of Waiting

Life today seems to be full of systems that feed into instant gratification. So much technology has advanced to answer the demand of the impatience of a growing society. Press a button and learn just about anything you want to know. Even medical information can be transmitted from doctor to patient electronically. But not everything is lightning-speed. In the world of caregiving, there are still long waits, and I’ve certainly had my share of them. Long waits in the waiting room. Long waits in the exam room, waiting to be seen by the doctor. Still waiting.

Then, there’s the really, really long wait. The kind of wait where time seems to stand still.

Several years ago, I experienced this kind of wait where I was in a place of uncertainty. There was no instant anything here. Patience wasn’t just a value; it became my only option. My mom was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy. We did not know exactly what to expect. Even with asking questions, patients don’t always get direct and truthful answers. That certainly was the

case here. Nothing prepared my mom—prepared us—for the excruciating pain she was about to experience. This kind, gentle, and soft-spoken petite lady described the procedure as more

painful than childbirth. I haven’t birthed a child, but just imagining the pain my mom described was enough for me. Yet, the painful experience didn’t end in that exam room.

Later, the doctor “reported” she did not extract enough “sample” to make a definite medical determination. She said she needed to do another biopsy. The wait wasn’t over.

Finding Faith in Waiting

We trusted the doctors and did everything “right,” only to feel disappointed. My mom is independent, but as her daughter and advocate, I couldn’t help but feel responsible.

What Was Next?

I told my mom’s doctor that my mom was not going through that again. The doctor’s entire demeanor and disposition changed. This prompted the answer to what was next. The doctor’s character and words told me it was time to go, and that meant more waiting.

Seeking new guidance, Philippians 4:6-7 reminded me to “not be anxious about anything…” (NIV). In that stillness, I sensed God leading us elsewhere. Patience and faith had to walk hand in hand;

I held on to hope even when I couldn’t see the way forward. Once again, we were in a waiting room. This time, both spiritual and real.

Looking back, God was teaching me not just to wait, but to wait with peace. The PEACE Plan, though not formal at the time, became my anchor.

PEACE in the Midst of Waiting

In the quiet of that waiting season, I learned that patience meant more than sitting still. It was active, attentive, and open to God’s leading. My journey through those months became a living blueprint for finding peace. This is a process that still guides me now:

P – PROCESS FEELINGS

It is always necessary to process your feelings. I sensed my mother could have a different—a better—experience. The doctor’s behavior left me questioning the possibilities. Feelings are an indicator of what is going on inside us, which helps us get to the heart of why we’re feeling as we do. Naming my worry was the start of surrender.

E – ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES

I said “no” to another bone marrow biopsy under the care of this particular doctor. I drew the line, first and foremost, at the lack of compassion, decency, and professionalism. A “no” to what does not align with your spirit is a “yes” to faith in what could be.

A – ACCESS RESOURCES

Here’s the beautiful thing about faith. You only need the size of a mustard seed. Because I chose to “walk by faith, not by sight,” I didn’t have to hunt for resources. The resource showed up.

A friend called to check in, as we do. He asked about my mom as always. When I shared the

circumstances, he immediately told me of an experience his god sister had and the route she

took. He recommended the same for my mom.

Those two weeks of waiting and wondering— yet, expecting… something—yielded answers.

I’d heard God’s answer to my question about what was next.

C – COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY

I stood firm on what felt right and good. Following my friend’s recommendation, there was more waiting and patience involved. The next month consisted of requesting and gathering medical records from a very uncooperative doctor, scheduling an appointment for an out-of-state facility,

planning the 6-hour road trip, and finally, getting there.

At no time did I shrink from what needed to be said. I might not have known the outcome of the actions I was taking, but I knew I was being obedient to patiently move toward what was on the other side of it all.

Amidst paper trails, phone calls, and travel, I was reminded that rest and comfort matter too.

E – EMBRACE SELF-CARE

At the heart of every physical act of self-care is the mental health aspect. The sheer acts of faithfully following the Holy Spirit’s guidance comforted me. In this comfort, my soul (and

body) was well. All was right with my soul. One of my favorite Bible verses comes

from Isaiah when he says, in Isaiah 40:31, “… those who hope in the Lord will renew their

strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will

walk and not be faint” (NIV).

Indeed. On the other side of this experience, which occurred over a course of several months, my mother received a clean bill of health following a full day of thorough testing (at Mayo Clinic). Even prior to any testing, the doctor was surprised she was supposed to be “sick” given her physical appearance. We were sent home for her to live her very active, healthy life for years to come.

When Waiting Is Hard: Patience and Faith Light the Way

When you’re unsure about which way is up or you feel as though you’re going in circles, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him, …” Psalm 37:7 (NIV).

When you don’t know what’s next for you or where to turn, trust the God that is within. That voice of God is always speaking to us, through thought, emotions, and others’ words.

You don’t have to know. You only need to have a little faith and wait on the Lord. He’ll always meet you in the “waiting room.” Just wait on Him with an expectation that He will show up, and you will discover He is already there.

Seasons change, but God’s presence remains steady. Even in the slow, inward-turning months, patience is renewed… if we wait in faith, open to God’s direction and love.

Carol Stokes

Carol L. Stokes is an attorney turned women caregiver coach, author,

and encourager for women seeking faith-fueled resilience.

She guides caregivers from overwhelm to peace through her

signature PEACE Plan framework.