Hurry up and wait …

Recently I received some direction from the Lord about something that I have been praying about for a few years now.

Yep, it has been a real time of truly waiting on the Lord. It has taken a full measure of both discipline and faith to remain patient, but I’ve learned when you really don’t know something, and you really need to know, ask God and then wait for the answer.

I know, I know … you don’t like waiting.

Who does?

Being in God’s waiting room can be a challenge to the most patient of us, but it does remind us of that very important fruit of the spirit: patience.

We are light years beyond the microwave crowd. We don’t want to wait 30 seconds for anything. We want what we want when we want it.

But God doesn’t work that way. God blesses when He wants; He directs when He wants; He guides when He wants; He leads when he wants … and He does all these kinds of things the way He wants to.

So if we really want to be in alignment with God, we must wait on Him. We have to learn to be patient. Sometimes it may be difficult to wait on the Lord, but it would be worse to wish you had!

A train was filled with tired people. Most of them had spent the day traveling through the hot dusty plains and at last evening had come and they all tried to settle down to a sound sleep. However, at one end of the car a man was holding a tiny baby and as night came on the baby became restless and cried more and more. Unable to take it any longer, a big brawny man spoke for the rest of the group. “Why don’t you take that baby to its mother?” There was a moment’s pause and then came the reply. “I’m sorry. I’m doin’ my best. The baby’s mother is in her casket in the baggage car ahead.” Again there was an awful silence for a moment. Then the big man who asked the cruel question was out of his seat and moved toward the man with the motherless child. He apologized for his impatience and unkind remark. He took the tiny baby in his own arms and told the tired father to get some sleep. Then in loving patience he cared for the little child all through the night.

Galatians 5:22, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness …”

2 Corinthians 6:6, “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.”

Colossians 1:11, “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy …”

Are you a patient person?

If you find yourself wrestling with patience, let me encourage you to get in tune with the Holy Spirit, who’s work in our lives produces patience. Step back and look if you’re really pushing for something God wants, or something you want. After all, if it’s of God, He will deliver whatever He needs to in perfect timing.

Scotty