Being patient...waiting for God in a want it now world.

“Be still and wait for the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
(Psalm 37:7)

Don’t you find that being patient is one of the hardest things to do? In the 21^st Century world no-one ever seems to want to wait for anything. We live in a world of fast food, fast cars, making a fast buck and so on. Life is being led at supersonic speed and it really isn't a good way to be. Society is filled with unhappy and stressed people whose life is all about rushing from place to place, never quite being able to achieve anything fully, before they have to run off to the next destination to add another task to what they are already juggling.

You only have to look at people stuck in a traffic jam to see the effect of lives lived without patience. You rarely see happy faces, but you do see boredom, frustration and anger.

It’s part of the reason that many medical specialists consider that the plague of the 21^st Century is not going to be of the body, but instead of the mind. Too many people, due to the hectic nature of 21^st Century life, are succumbing to stress, depression and other mental health issues. Studies show that one in four people will experience issues to do with mental health in any given year.

It’s quite frightening.

Often, during these times, a question that someone struggling with their faith has is: ‘My prayers haven’t been answered.’ This is when we should look back at Scripture and do as it says in the Psalm…”wait patiently for Him”. It’s very hard to do, but the benefits are massive.

“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31)

God doesn’t work on the same timescale as us...prayers will be answered…just not always right now. It will be answered when the time is right within God’s plan and in a way that will be best for you, even if the answer is no.

Waiting is often how His plan for your development as a Christian is achieved.

So why wait?

·         To learn not to give up, to develop a resilient faith.

·         To learn humility – submitting to His will, not the other way around.

·         To learn to depend on a God who will do the right thing at the right time.

·         To learn new skills that you will need to fulfil His plan.

·         To learn about yourself.

“It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own
authority.”
(Acts 1:7)

Sometimes it can be easier to take a shortcut to get what you want, but that is done at the risk of falling into the hands of the world, instead of resting in the arms of God. This is why He tells us we are not “to fret” when others seem to succeed because of their fall into sin. This is not what God wants for us. Those whose success comes through wickedness and sin do not live with God as their father. God doesn't measure success through wealth, power or position. The wicked will find that their success will be short lived – ours will be eternal.

Conversely, have you considered the dangers if you don’t wait upon God and for His plan to be fulfilled? Perhaps the job you get will be the wrong one and will cause more problems than it solves. Maybe you'll end up in a sinful or unhappy relationship because you wouldn't wait for God to introduce you to the perfect person He has for you. You could very well miss out on future blessings due to a desire for an immediate solution. You could overlook a cry for help from someone in need.

When you rush around, relying solely on your own strength and plans, you can miss the small details that can be so meaningful and important. Not waiting could mean missing great Godly opportunities, as they may well pass you by without you even knowing they were there.

God has an amazing plan for those who love him. It’s not always easy, but it will be worth the wait:

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
(Lamentations 3:25-26)