Waiting is challenging for most of us. What do we do when we feel
assured that we have fulfilled all the applicable requirements of The Word…and GOD appears to have
pushed the pause button? Sisters
and brothers, what do we do? As always, we have definite
alternatives, some good, some not so.
We can opt to
purposely plunge ourselves into a deep sense of frustration, emotionally taking GOD to task for being A.W.O.L.
(absent without leave) during our perceived moments of
need. Alternatively, we can assume a somewhat self-righteous and arrogant posture, patting ourselves on
the back for at least holding up our
end of the covenant agreement with God. Or, we could
make a far better choice: the conscious decision to trust that GOD knows exactly what He is doing, in and
around our lives.
Friends, how
do you choose to react
during those times when answers to
prayers seem to be hindered,
or, at best, delayed beyond
the scope of your personal expectations, finite logic, or limited understanding
of the big picture? One
of the things that I love best about God is that ‘HE GETS IT!’ In other words, HE
is the “only wise God” Who
foresees the end from the beginning, Who is always in tune (and in control)
with what is going on behind the scenes, Who is (get this) arranging and
re-arranging the affairs of the universe to meet the smallest needs of His
children. (Romans 16:27 – I Timothy 1:17 – Jude
1:25) WOW! What an immeasurably caring, compassionate, loving and mighty GOD we
are privileged to serve!
Here’s the
thing, though. The Word clearly teaches that we “have need of patience, that, after [we] have done the
will of God, [we] might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36) Hence,
the level of patience we practice is an indispensable component and accurate
predictor of our end results. The Apostle James admonishes us to
“let patience have her
perfect work, that [we] may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James
1:4) It seems that our completeness
in Christ and our success
in this earthly realm are inextricably tied to our willingness to
exercise patience. Jesus Christ, Himself, declared this: “In your
patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)
Precisely what
IS patience? In a
word, patience is
the elapsed time between your call and God’s response.
God declares that YOU have every right to “call upon me in the day of trouble: I will
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
(Psalm 50:15) However, Your
call is placed within the context of time, or “kronos.” On
the other hand, God’s answer is
issued out of the context of eternity, or “kairos.” Bottom-line:
We human beings do not always know what needs
to be done, how it should be
done, or when it should
be done, i.e. the optimal existential moment in which maximum positive results
may be achieved. So…we have
to wait.
Be assured of
one thing. God does not use
caller I.D. He has need of such mundane technological
devices. To wit, the fact that GOD does not always answer your
call immediately in no
way indicates a lack of divine awareness, compassion, or concern. However,
there are some forms of human static that
hinder prayer signals and diminish receptivity. The Apostle Peter
warns us husbands to honor our wives, that our “prayers be not hindered.” (I
Peter 3:7) Another example: If we stand in relational opposition
with another person, we are instructed to “leave…[our] gift before the
altar…first be reconciled to [our] brother, and then come and offer [our]
gift.” (Matthew 5:24)
In the absence
of any self-imposed barriers to communication with the Throne of Grace, it
becomes all about trusting GOD
enough…and loving GOD enough…to WAIT. We must wait
proactively, not passively, thoroughly engaged in Kingdom business while living
in faithful expectation of answered prayer. Trust me on this one:
GOD IS NEVER SLOW! We just don’t always know…what GOD is up to! So wait, sisters and brothers, and be ultimately
blessed!
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine
heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings
as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not
faint.
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
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