“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:25, ESV)
I’ve quit rushing. Well, at least some of the time. I still look for the shorter line at the grocery store, but I just as frequently will motion someone with only a few items ahead of me. No, I’m not an angel in disguise; I just try not to worry about delays. Some days I succeed better than others.
We live in an impatient world. Someone has called this the “microwave generation” because we have come to expect instant gratification. When something takes longer than we think it should, our stress level grows. Unfortunately, that impatience often spills out as rudeness or anger toward those around us.
Ask yourself this question. How important will this inconvenience be an hour from now? Tomorrow? Next week? Unless this is a true emergency (it usually isn’t), what will it matter if you wait an extra five minutes in line? Accept the fact that some things are outside of our control. Delays happen because of bad weather, road construction, power outages, or any number of situations that are no one’s fault. Take a deep breath and let it go. (Hint: To reduce stress, build a little extra time into your schedule for the unexpected.)
A lack of patience on our part may bring other problems that affect others as well. Consider what happened with Abraham and Sarah. In Genesis 12 God promised Abraham he would become the father of a great nation. That was quite a promised for a 75-year-old man with a barren elderly wife.
In Genesis 15, Abraham points out that there is still no child, but God assures him that his descendants will number more than the stars. “And he believed in the LORD” (verse 6).
In Genesis 16, with still no child, Sarah presses Abraham to institute her Plan B. Father a child by her Egyptian maid, Hagar. We know how that turned out. Centuries later, we still see the turmoil that one act of impatience created.
Do you feel God is not answering your prayers? Are you impatient because He gave you promises that are still unfulfilled? Are you ready to try Plan B since God’s Plan A just isn’t happening? We must never move ahead of God’s timing.
It’s not only about our willingness to wait, but also about how we wait that is important. I came across this quote by an unknow author that says it well.
“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”
We may not always understand what God is doing in our lives. Is He teaching you to trust Him more? Is He using this time to help build your character? Will this situation show His glory to others? Do not sidetrack what God is working to accomplish in your life by becoming impatient. Wait for the right time. God is working on our behalf.
- “When the right time comes, I the LORD will quickly do this!” (Isaiah 60:22, NET)
- “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9, NET)
Lord, I don’t always see Your hand at work in my life. I grow impatient with the process and sometimes try to move ahead of Your timing. Help me to slow down, trust, and wait. I know that You do all things well, and when the time is right, You will bring Your promises to pass in my life.
Additional Scriptures for Reflection: Exodus 14:14, Psalm 62:5, Proverbs 16:32, Micah 7:7, James 5:7-8.
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