On some level we have all know that waiting is involved in our everyday lives and while we don’t like it we suffer through it. Whether it’s at the drive through, at a stop light, the grocery store, the doctor’s office or a response to an email – the list could go on forever and we accept it. I think, however, that there is a difference between waiting and waiting patiently. It is easy to wait for something when you know there is a certain time frame allotted in order to get what you want, but how do you react when that reasonable time frame has come and gone and you are still waiting?
The word patient is defined as being “able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious”. No one gets what they want exactly when they want it and we all have our own idea of what is a reasonable time to wait on something. But God usually takes us beyond that time limit and ultimately out of our comfort zone not only to test our ability to wait patiently on Him but to strengthen our resolve to continue to wait on Him. He uses the time of waiting to build up our hope and dependence on Him rather than solely on getting what we want. The truth is God is more concerned about us growing in our faith and trust in Him than he is with giving us everything we ask Him for. He knows us completely and knows what is good for us and what isn’t, what will be a blessing to us and what will utterly ruin our lives and it is sometimes through the act of patiently waiting on the Lord that we come to see His good pleasing and perfect will for us. Our hoping and waiting on the Lord shouldn’t solely be for the purpose of getting something from God, but ultimately to draw closer to Him, and when He is our focus and not a thing then we can wait patiently for Him to move or to act on our behalf because we know that he is faithful and he is good.
by Kalesha Peters
