Shane & Shane - Waiting Room Lyrics
Lyrics
I will run when I cannot walk
I will sing when there is no song
I will pray when there is no prayer
I will listen when I cannot hear
Sitting in the waiting room of silence
Waiting for that still soft voice I know
Offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
Trusting that this closet's where You are
Lord I know if I change my mind
You will change my heart in time
Sovereign Lord this time's from You
So I sit in the waiting room of silence
'Cause it's all about You
I will fight when I cannot feel
I will trust when You don't seem real
I will tell when I cannot speak
I will step when I cannot see
Video
Waiting Room
Meaning & Inspiration
Shane & Shane's "Waiting Room," released on May 23, 2002, as part of their album *Psalms*, is a profound exploration of faith's endurance in times of perceived stillness and difficulty. The song doesn't dwell on elaborate melodies but instead centers its power on a deeply relatable message of surrendering to God's timing and presence, even when His voice is not immediately apparent. The lyrics paint a picture of a soul in a state of quiet anticipation, choosing to remain in a spiritual "waiting room" rather than striving or demanding. This posture of humility is echoed in passages like Isaiah 30:15, which states, "For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust is your strength.' " The core sentiment is that even when one’s physical or spiritual capacity wanes – when one cannot walk, sing, pray, or hear – faith compels a continued commitment to God. This mirrors the resilience described in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me," suggesting a reliance on divine power that transcends personal limitations. The act of offering words "up to the rooftop to Your heart" signifies a prayerful and persistent pursuit of connection, trusting that God's presence is attainable even in what feels like a confined or isolated space, a "closet." This resonates with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:6, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." The acknowledgment of God's sovereignty is central; the lyric, "Lord I know if I change my mind, You will change my heart in time. Sovereign Lord this time's from You," speaks directly to an acceptance of divine orchestration. This aligns with the biblical principle that God's plans are perfect and often unfold according to His perfect timing, as seen in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." The commitment to persevere even when circumstances are challenging – to fight when unable to feel, to trust when God seems distant, to speak when unable to utter words, and to step when vision is obscured – embodies the perseverance of faith. This unwavering trust in the unseen is a hallmark of biblical faith, as articulated in Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." "Waiting Room" ultimately encourages listeners to find their strength not in their own abilities, but in the unwavering presence and ultimate plan of God, even and especially during seasons of quiet and uncertainty.