A few weeks ago, I waited 30 minutes in the drive-thru lane at our local pharmacy to pick up a medication. During that wait, I had a lot of time to think, to emote, and to reflect. For a year and a half, all of us have been waiting for the pandemic to be over and we are still waiting. Now, due to shortages of supplies or people, we find ourselves waiting for products, for food service, for someone to help.
I have noticed many of us get cranky or angry or impatient while waiting. I wanted to find a way to transform this waiting experience into an opportunity to pray. I decided to create a prayer guide that would be simple, and somewhat easy to remember, that could be put in a pocket or purse or saved on a mobile device that could be taken out while waiting. It is my hope to share this guide widely so that this current time of waiting may be transformed for everyone.
Below you will find the text of the prayer and a downloadable image of the prayer that you can use.
Prayer text
WHILE YOU WAIT PRAY…
For the workers at the place where you wait & the people waiting in line
with you:
“Only you, O God, know what is going on in their life, make whole what is
broken, give strength for whatever they face this day…”
AND PRAY SOME MORE…
For family and friends, lifting them up one by one to Jesus:
“Jesus this is Sarah, Sarah this is Jesus.”
IF STILL WAITING PRAY…
For medical personal & support staff, public servants; For people who are sick, alone, facing food/housing insecurity; Or for anyone who comes to mind:
Use either suggested prayer starter above or another.
TIME TO SAY “AMEN.”
“May it be so,” leave it in God’s hands. God cares for you, strengthens you, and watches over you while you wait. (Isaiah 40:31)
