Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalms 27:14 NLT
I won't try to speak for everyone, but patience is something I could use more of. Given what I observe standing in line at Walmart and daily driving about Brockton, I'm not alone. We are impatient with others, ourselves, perhaps more infrequently, and God.
Our impatience often comes from our inability to control a given situation. We can't predict the behavior of that driver who passed us on the left to turn right at the red light. We have no control over the length of time it takes to get that needed medical procedure. We certainly can't control when and how God answers prayer.
The difference between waiting on God and all those other things is with God; we have the assurance that when the answer arrives, we know it will be for good. Though at the time we receive it, we don't understand–we may never understand–but we trust in the promise in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."
Knowing the outcome will be good still doesn't help with the patience part. We must continue in faith despite Satan telling us God will never answer or that God doesn't care. This means being brave and courageous; when we find that difficult, we pray for God to strengthen our faith.
All for those earthly things we can't control, in the words of the philosopher Billy Joel, "Slow down, you crazy child." Accept those things we can't control for what they are. Breathe and pray for patience.
God, thank you for answering our prayers. We confess we are an inpatient people. We want our lives to be smooth and the interruptions and distractions nonexistent. We know this is unrealistic, yet we become anxious and, yes, at times, irritable when those things occur. Sometimes we admit we even grow impatient with you because our prayers aren't answered in the way we want and the timing we desire. Forgive us; we pray. May we recall all the times you've responded in the past and the promise you will continue to answer. Grant us patience in our waiting. And when we grow impatient with others and ourselves, give us hearts of forgiveness and understanding. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Comentários