Reflections: Waiting in Jesus’ presence, 2026 style

A few days ago, our wi-fi decided to take a morning break, or maybe all the neighbors and area tourists decided to check their email or binge Netflix while it was raining. Whatever the cause, my computer wasn’t loading anything I needed to use, read, or work on before I left for an event starting mid-morning. Switching to my phone hotspot didn’t help. 

When I eventually got my email open, the first message I saw was an Encouragement for Today devotional entitled “Waiting in Jesus’ Presence.” 

“Oh, brother,” I thought. “Another lecture on patience.” This piece, though, wasn’t the typical sermon on patience. Instead, referencing Sarah Young’s book “Jesus Calling, Jesus Listens,” the writer asked readers to consider time spent waiting, for whatever reason, an opportunity to spend some time in the presence of Jesus. 

After I read that email, no more messages would load! (Hint from the Holy Spirit, or what!) So, I asked myself, “What if this inconvenience is a gift?” 

What is the worst thing that could happen if I can’t check all these messages or look up information? (Answer: Somebody might have to wait for my reply. Well, okay, people my age remember waiting for actual mail or for someone to return to the office and check their answering machine.) What if I miss a deadline? (Answer: I’ll call the person, apologize and reschedule.) What if I can’t order supplies in time for our vacation? (Answer: We can stop at an outdoor-supply store enroute.) 

Those pressing questions resolved, I began asking what the Holy Spirit might have to say. Picking up my Bible, I revisited some scriptures from the last couple of days’ First5 devotionals, and amazingly, a couple of them hit my heart in a fresh way. One even helped shed new light on a situation a family member is going through; and since I hoped to connect with that person soon, it was a reminder to pray. 

Next, I spied a pile of printed materials I picked up at a recent conference and hadn’t had time to peruse. The first magazine in the stack had a timely article about world events, again giving new insight and suggestions for prayer. 

After that, I just took a few minutes to consciously calm my thoughts by turning to Psalm 46:10 (“Be still. . .”), and Philippians 4:6-7 (“Anxious for nothing. . .”), and asking God to help me reorient priorities and not worry about the rest. And then, amazingly, the wi-fi recovered! 

Other scriptures I thought about that morning reminded me that I’m not the only one who wants to stay on schedule and keep things moving: Even some of Jesus’ disciples, who had the opportunity to walk with and learn from Him daily, were impatient with little children on one occasion and also had trouble understanding that the Kingdom of God didn’t mean immediate military conquest. They, too, needed to slow down, listen to Jesus, and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Obviously, some things really are emergencies. And there are also plenty of scriptures about hard work and efficiency. That’s why we need to pray for guidance. That morning’s experience, though, showed me that I sometimes panic when I lose control over my to-do list, when in fact, it may be an opportunity to slow down and listen.