Turn your waiting room into a classroom – Jess Sowards
Hey, everyone—wait for it.
Wait for it.
Don’t you love hearing that phrase? Someone’s telling a story, and you know a plot twist is coming. You don’t even need to know what it is—you just know it’s going to be good when they say those words.
But that’s not what I’m talking about today.
I’d like to share something that really bothers me.
Yes, I am going somewhere with this—hang in there.
What gets under my skin is when people take Bible verses out of context. One of the most infamous examples?
Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”
Just about every Christian home has this verse on a wall or throw blanket. But here’s the question—has every Christian read the fine print?
Let’s dig deeper.
That verse sits right in the middle of a prophetic word to the children of Israel—who had just been exiled. If you keep reading, God even tells them how long they’ll be in exile: 70 years. Yes, you read that right. Seventy years.
Now, back up a few verses to Jeremiah 29:5 and 7, and you’ll find clear, practical instructions for how they’re supposed to live during that time. God doesn’t tell them to isolate. He doesn’t say, “Stick your head in the sand and wait it out.” He doesn’t shove them into a waiting room with nothing but a stack of old home videos to pine away the years.
Instead, He gives them this:
- Build houses.
- Plant gardens.
- Eat from those gardens.
- Get married.
- Have children.
- Marry off your kids.
- Have grandbabies.
In short: you’re going to be here a while—so thrive.
Take full advantage of where you are. Don’t sit around in passive mode, just waiting for change to knock on your door.
Here’s the heart of that prophetic word:
Waiting in a passive, pouty way won’t change your circumstances.
It won’t speed things up either.
Think about a flight delay. Suddenly, you’ve got three hours to kill at the airport. If you’ve got a book, an audiobook, or a laptop, you’re fine. But without those? It feels like the longest three hours of your life. Sitting there, arms crossed, staring at the gate—as if that alone will make the plane arrive faster—doesn’t work.
Here’s my point.
If you’re in a waiting season—waiting for God’s promises or the dreams in your heart to unfold—don’t just sit and pout. Don’t cross your arms and glare at the metaphorical departure gate, willing something to happen.
Instead, do what Jess Sowards from Roots and Refuge Farm on YouTube often says:
“Turn your waiting room into a classroom.”
Learn everything you can in this in-between space.
Develop the skills.
Grow deep roots.
Seek connections.
So when your plane arrives and the door opens, you’ll be ready to board.
Ready to move forward—prepared and equipped.
P.S. I would highly recommend Jess’ YouTube channel; she is a homesteader, small business owner, podcaster and an incredibly inspirational woman with a deep, practical faith and a poet’s heart. I have followed her for years.
Until next time,
©2025 Katherine Walden
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