Waiting. Waiting is a concept that is immediately met with apprehension. You instantly feel that inner struggle. In our society instant gratification is all around us. You want it now and if you can't have it right away the waiting can be torturous. In short, waiting is not something that may of us choose to do if we have the choice.
As a Christian, waiting is something that we can do a lot of in our Christian walk. We pray for something and we wait for God to answer. The waiting can be hard and sometimes even painful but it is usually in that time of waiting that we grow the most.
In Still Waiting, Ann Swindell tells her personal story of waiting for healing from trichotillomania and parallels it with the story of the bleeding woman in Mark 25. You feel the emotions of waiting interwoven in each story. I saw myself in so many moments since I have had seasons of my life of waiting, especially in regards to physical healing from a mysterious pelvic pain that I've had for the past six years that baffles many doctors and specialists.
While Ann waited to be healed from trichotillomania, or trich, she grew closer to Jesus "and that changed everything." As you read about Ann's story, and the various battles that she went through while dealing with this disorder, you can see yourself in the reflection. We've all been in a time where we can't control our circumstances. We are waiting for things to change. Still Waiting gives hope to the hopeless. God might not change whatever battle it is that you personally face but he can be by your side throughout the waiting and you will come out the other side stronger than you were before.
I felt uplifted after reading this book, though my heart goes out to the author. I was hoping that she would be free from her condition but it seems like it won't happen this side of heaven.
I loved that there were discussion questions at the end of the book so that you can focus on your own time of waiting and find Jesus in the midst. Bottom line: we all have to wait but what's important is WHO you focus on.
*Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
