Patience, Lord! NOW!
Just before winter was making its big debut, I remember watching the squirrels in our area going into overdrive, scurrying ceaselessly through the undergrowth and stuffing nuts and seeds into the soil.
They were making a mad dash to survive the winter. They were frantic to bury their food “treasures”, Could we be taking after those squirrels?
Just about everywhere we look and with all that we do, we tend to try to do it faster! Are we trying to mimic Superman — faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Sorry – I had a nostalgic moment!
But, it does seem that “faster and swifter” is our goal. Fast cars. Instant meals. Rushing to make it on time to that event or appointment. Running faster than others in our races, our routines, and our to-do’s! But that’s not the way God works.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “God . . . does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what He is doing”
God has a plan for our lives. He also has a timetable for that plan. Yet God doesn’t give us a “heads up” for His timetable. He doesn’t have to—He’s God. And we can trust that He has our best interests at heart.
But, God!!! HELP now! One of the most painful things in life is when we are hurrying here and there and God isn’t. And, that usually leads us to impatience.
Impatience is often a lack of trust. When we’re impatient, we’re saying, “God, I don’t really trust You and Your timing. I don’t think you have my best interests at heart.”
We get worried and hurried. Then we start scurrying about because we don’t trust God to act at the right time and in the right way. As children grow up, part of maturing is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet.” A delay is not a denial.
We must be patient and trust God’s timing. His delays are not denials. God knows the right time and the right way. He has a plan and a timetable. And His timing is perfect.
I look back over my years of rushing around like a squirrel hiding his seeds and nuts, God used this verse to encourage me: “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3 – Living Bible Translation)
We trust in YOU and your timing, Lord, but could you please put the pedal to the metal ASAP? An old song says it well for God’s response: “Trust and obey. There’s no other way. To be happy in Jesus, is to trust and obey.” Maybe we have visions, dreams and a hopes for something specific. It’s time for us to trust in God’s timetable. His ways are so much higher than ours!