Waiting . . . patiently?

Waiting patiently is hard for me, and maybe it is for you too. I think part of it is our society and the way that we are always accustomed to getting what we want, when we want it, with little to no wait. Additionally, I think we have a self-centered mindset and ultimately view life as being all about "me." Fast food restaurants advertise their speed and how you can get it "your way." Microwaves zap food so quickly that you never have time to leave the room before it's ready. DVR's and TiVo allow us to record any show on television with the touch of the button and watch with just a click. We don't even have to sit through the commercials; we can just fast forward through anything we don't want! If only life could be like that: record what you want, skip the bad stuff, and play when convenient.

If patience were a muscle, then mine is very out of shape, flabby, and weak. Everything about our daily lives imprints upon us that things should be fast and immediate. We lose our patience while we sit in traffic, we are frustrated when the delivery pizza takes too long to arrive, we really get irritated when the internet is down for 30 minutes! My children already expect fast service, immediate results, and instant gratification. How can we really expect to teach our children patience when we ourselves can't wait and be still?

I think God's plan for helping us to mature and rely on Him involves the process of waiting. Even though this season can be difficult, it is one of the only ways to learn about God. When things come quickly or easily, we rarely do more than mumble a half-hearted, "Thank you, Lord" under our breath. However, when we are forced to wait, we learn to come to the end of ourselves and begin to turn to God for strength, comfort, and peace. We may not get the results we desire, but our hearts can be changed to accept what God desires during this process. God commands us to, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 47:10). Part of knowing God involves resting in patience, not getting immediate results, and learning to wait.

It's hard to wait when the pregnancy test is negative for the fifteenth time.

It's hard to wait when you really desire to get married, and you are still single.

It's hard to wait when your husband lost his job, and three months later, he's still looking for work.

It's hard to wait when the house you need to sell is still on the market after 11 months.

It's hard to wait when the doctor says that there might be a medical problem with your child.

We wonder, "Where is God in this?"

I think the answer is that He's right there, next to us, wanting us to simply wait and trust Him. God can only develop patience in us by letting us exercise that muscle. He promises that He "longs to be gracious to you, he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" (Isaiah 30:18). So, I will wait . . . patiently.