No Need to Wait

No one likes waiting. There’s something in our hearts which screams, “No!” when we’re told to hold on, or we’re asked to wait for any amount of time. If we’re told to wait, what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Is the person asking for our patience aware that they are standing in the way of our heart’s desire? Anger is quick to rise as we swallow the apparent need to shout back, “Just do it now!” 

If I hear this attitude in a child, my immediate reaction is to firmly correct their behavior. There’s nothing worse than a whiny child who just gets whinier, right? No glass of milk, puppy, or destination is so important they can get away with being rude and impossible to be around. 

On the other hand, I often have no qualms with wanting to approach Jesus and whining about His timing. “We talked about this! I need you to answer my prayer now, Lord. You know I want this circumstance to play out just right, but not take this long. It’d be for your glory, right? Why can’t you just do it now? What’s the hold up? How much longer?” 

What if God had given Abraham’s wife, Sarah, a child when she was truly young? What if Moses had been reunited with his people as a teen, and God wasn’t needed in convincing the Israelites that the most unlikely character can be used as one of God’s greatest heroes? What if David had never had to work through Saul’s reign before becoming king himself? What if Peter had never had to sit in his remorse before truly receiving Christ’s forgiveness for his betrayal?

Waiting. Waiting is hard. But it’s within that season of waiting God is making absolutely sure we are only looking for him because it’s obviously impossible for anyone else. 

Waiting sets the stage for his glory to be seen in all its purity. After all, he is the ultimate author of our stories. May we wait with anticipation. May we wait with hope. May we simply but wholly wait with our eyes fixed on Jesus.