October 2, 2026
Around the first of November, my husband found out he was going to have another foot surgery. I think this is at least the sixth one.
The surgery was originally scheduled for November 11th but because of some insurance circumstances, he did not end up having the surgery until three weeks later. (On a side note, surgery was on my birthday so I’m positive I am going to have a “do-over” on the birthday celebration!)
The doctor had informed Wayne that after the surgery he would have no weight bearing AT ALL on his foot for at least four weeks. During the time he found out he was to have surgery until the day of the procedure what do you think Wayne did? He worked.
He worked not at a job but at all the projects he knew he would not be able to do during his recovery. He changed all the batteries in the smoke detectors, blew all the leaves at least three times a week, changed the air filters in our house, put up outside Christmas decorations, and a ton of other things. During his wait – he worked.
Finally, surgery day arrived. When we checked in at the hospital, they assigned Wayne a patient number and they also gave it to me. There was a huge board where everyone waiting would be updated on surgery status via your patient number. Of course, due to the hospitals still being under COVID and flu precautions they would not allow anyone to come and sit with me during the surgery nor would they allow me back in the surgery prep center other than to give him a quick kiss before they rolled him into the operating room. I think it is an understatement when I say I watched that board like a hawk.
It started out “prep for surgery” then proceeded to “waiting for surgery.” Throughout the morning it changed from “waiting to surgery,” “in surgery,” “finishing up,” “in recovery,” and then “waking up”. Every time that board would change I would pray. Pray for him to be calm, for the doctors to know exactly what to do, for the infection to be manageable, for wisdom, for him not to be sick when he woke up, and everything in between. I prayed the entire morning.
The lady at the front desk tried to get me to go to the café and I declined. I would not take my eyes off of the board as I felt the need to pray and thank God through every stage of surgery. I saw the board change to “preparing to go home” and I immediately headed to the front desk. As I was arriving, the phone rang and the attendant answered the phone. As she hung up I inquired if that was my husband who was ready to go. She said, "Yes, how did you know?" Of course, I knew because I was watching the board.
As I was thinking about these things this week God impressed on my heart how many things we wait on every day. We wait in line at the grocery store, the bank, a restaurant, nine months for a baby, traffic, and a million other things. We wait.
I felt like God was saying here is what you do while you wait. First, you keep working for those you love. In 1 Corinthians 16:14 it says “Let all that you do be done in love.” Wayne was working at all those things before surgery because he loves me, our family, and the Lord. He wanted to be sure we were taken care of. Think about all the people in the Bible that were waiting on things, but they still were working while they waited. Noah definitely was one who worked while he waited.
I don’t think waiting is one of my greatest strengths. Actually, I’m not sure if any of us wait we, however we must remember there is still work to do while we wait. Work to help others, work to serve the Lord, work to spread the love of Jesus.
The second thing I feel like God impressed upon me was while you are waiting make sure you are watching. Just like I watched that board at the hospital, we must watch and be aware while we are waiting. We do not want to miss an opportunity.
While you are waiting in the grocery store line, watch. Watch for that mother who might need a little help. While you are waiting in the restaurant, watch. Watch for the waitress that might need encouragement. Watch for opportunities to share a kind word. Watch the people around you for someone who might need you to help. Watch for anyone who looks like they might just need encouragement or prayer. Just remember to watch. Watch for ways to show you care.
The last thing I thought we need to do while we wait is pray. I prayed over every step of that surgery. I covered every area I could think of. I really think if someone had been sitting with me, I could have been distracted and maybe not taken as much time to pray. We must limit our distractions and pray while we wait.
Waiting allows us time to pray - we just have to use the time correctly. Prayer is communication with God and there is nothing better to do than pray while you wait. Pray for the situation you are waiting on. Pray for direction while you wait. Pray to ask God to work in your life while you wait.
In Isaiah 40:31 it says “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint.” This scripture almost makes me LOVE waiting. How much more could we ask for while waiting? I seem to think waiting is wasting my time, but God says waiting has a purpose. Waiting renews us, re-energizes us, refocuses our minds, and restores our faith. When we wait the right way not a moment is wasted.
I am reminded of the Christmas story. Joseph and Mary had to wait nine months for a baby. They traveled to Bethlehem for the census because they loved God and it was His will for Jesus to be born there. An angel appeared to shepherds in a field. The wise men watched and followed a star. The whole world prayed and rejoiced over a baby born, sent by God, out of love, for every person, to save us from our sins. There was work, watching, and praying involved in the wait.
God has taught me a lesson in these last few weeks of waiting. He has taught me to continue to work while I wait. Don’t stop and let waiting paralyze you – continue to work for the Lord, for those you love, and for those God allows to cross your path. I have also learned to watch while I wait. Watch for God opportunities to show others love, to meet a need, to share a kind word, and just be open to what God places in my daily path. I have been reminded of the importance of praying while you wait. God has a plan and a purpose for my life and yours. Could it be that waiting is God’s way of allowing us time to work for the Kingdom, watch for needs we can meet, and pray to deepen our relationship with Him? Just a thought.
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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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