Photo Credit: Eirik Solheim (Creative Commons)
I am not a very patient person.
When I get an idea in my head, when I make a goal to accomplish something, when I feel God giving me a promise, I want it as soon as possible.
I don’t want to wait a few days to get my haircut.
I don’t like waiting for the book to come in the mail.
I don’t want to wait six more months until I can go to Czech.
I don’t like waiting until I’m at home to check my email (thank you iPhone!).
Sometimes, I don’t even like waiting the 30 minutes for a meal to cook.
I hate waiting for what I want.
And I know I’m not the only one.
We live in a microwave kind of world.
We can get a meal in 5 minutes or less. We can change our TV channel with the push of a button. We can access our money, transfer funds or even get paid without even going to the bank. Many stores are open 24 hours a day just in case we want something at midnight.
We can get news while it’s happening, instead of waiting for the next newspaper to be printed.
We can buy what we want, even if we don’t have the money.
We can access information, buy products and talk with others at the push of a button.
We can get what we want, when we want it, with little-to-no waiting.
Except with God.
He tends to make us wait.
Abraham and Sarah waited 75 years for a child.
Jacob waited 14 years to make Rebekah his wife.
David waited decades to take his role as king.
Joseph waited 40 years for his dream to come true.
The Israelites waited 40 years in the desert before entering the Promised Land, and even then they had to fight for it.
God doesn’t seem to give us what we want when we want it.
He makes us wait.
And believe.
And hope.
And wrestle.
And cry out.
And trust that, even though His promise isn’t happening, He is still in control.
And that He has a plan for the waiting.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
God doesn’t make us wait because He’s mad at us. He doesn’t withhold a promise because He’s punishing us. He doesn’t act slowly, drag His feet or just like to watch us squirm under the pressure.
We have to wait because God is waiting on us.
He’s waiting on us to develop our character.
He’s waiting for us to deal with our baggage.
He’s giving us time to prepare our hearts, draw closer to Him and face the darkness within ourselves.
God is patient, and gives us the time we need to be ready to receive His promise, even if it seems like He is the one in the wrong.
What is God giving you time to deal with as you wait on His promise?
