Patience is a virtue that is difficult when we are feeling anxious and are accustomed to everything being instant.
Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.”
In my experience, God is not always fast at responding to my prayers. Sometimes He is, but not always. I think we all have our timelines laid out for God to respond to. Yet, our Father in Heaven whom we cry out to also said,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55:8-9.
God does not think like we do nor are His ways our ways. There is much faith involved in waiting. Think of the confusion and harm that can come because we fail to wait on God for His timing and direction. In Gen 15:4 God says this to Abraham;
“This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Sarah would not wait for God to fulfill His promise; she thought she would help God out by giving her servant Hagar to Abraham to bear this promised child. That was a terrible idea. Unfortunately, Abraham gave in to Sarah’s scheme and soon we meet Hagar’s son Ishmael. If you read the following chapters you will see the problems and grief that was caused by the impatience of Sarah and the foolish giving in of Abraham.
We find ourselves often waiting on God for something or someone. The challenge is to not allow our lack of faith, anxiety, or patience to prompt us to move ahead of God. We have all seen God care for us in days gone by. He is faithful and will do whatever is in His heart to do.
I did ask God today “what about when we are waiting on someone we love who keeps doing something that is foolish or harmful, and they keep doing it?”
He simply reminded me to put my trust in Him and not in our loved one. He also reminded me to give thanks, as nothing is impossible for Him.
Perhaps that is not the answer we are wishing for, but it is the heart of our Father. Trust, give thanks and wait.
Dear Father,
You know everything I am waiting on today. I put my trust in You and ask for Your mercy. Thank You for hearing me when I call out to you. Thank You for being all wise. Your ways and Your thoughts are far beyond my own. I choose to wait and trust You. Thank You for what You are doing, even in this moment. I trust you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen