I hate to wait. I know others who hate it too. I’ve seen people waiting for:
- a delayed flight,
- an injury to heal,
- a traffic light to change,
- an appliance to be repaired,
- the right person to fill a job,
- acceptance to Bible College,
- money to build a church building,
- the right time to announce an engagement,
- a child to become available for adoption,
- a wayward family member to return,
- a heart to soften.
It’s easy to think that life is on hold until what we’re waiting for happens. Time spent waiting feels wasted and less than God’s best.
From sighs to foot tapping to anger and panic, few people show patience while waiting. Impatience causes us to do and say things we later regret (i.e., Sarah offering Abraham Hagar, Genesis 16), or we focus so much on what hasn’t happened that we miss the good around us. We fail to see the waiting room as a deliberate part of God’s plan for us.
Being one who naturally falls on the impatient side of the scale, a story about King Saul’s impatience in I Samuel jarred me.
Saul’s Heart Problem
A Philistine army with soldiers as numerous as the sand, gathered against Israel. Israel’s soldiers quaked in fear at the sight. Samuel the prophet had promised to come in seven days to make offerings to the Lord before the battle. Day seven dawns. Israel’s soldiers are scattering while the enemy is gathering. Where is Samuel? What would you do if you were in King Saul’s place?
Saul felt “compelled” to make the offerings himself. He needed to get this battle going before he lost his army. Samuel arrived as Saul finishes the sacrifices. Listen to Samuel’s rebuke.
“You acted foolishly, you have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, He would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command” (I Samuel 13:13-14 NASB).
Whoa. You mean time-pressure was not Saul’s problem?
No. Saul had a heart problem.
Saul focused on his goal. His desire to win the battle wasn’t bad, but it eclipsed the higher goal of trusting God—both His will and His ways. It’s not enough to have good goals. We must seek to accomplish them God’s way and in His timing.
Isaiah 28:16 reminds us that those who trust in God won’t be in a hurry.
Lord Jesus, help us trust You when obstacles slow us down. Grant us hearts that seek You more than our idea of when and how things should go.
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I tends toward impatience, too. The fact that we can so grievously misstep in our impatience is definitely jarring.
A definite warning. Thanks, Barbara.
Debbie,
Waiting is definitely not one of my gifts, but over my six-plus decades, God has taught me there is purpose in the waiting. I learned a lot during my son’s ten year prodigal journey. I learned how to go boldly before God’s throne of grace — I definitely grew in my prayer life. Right now, I’m waiting with anticipation (and with a bit of impatience) for the Lord’s return to take up His church in the Rapture. I have to remind myself that every day He tarries, perhaps another 1000 people may be coming to salvation.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Praying for the Lord’s return with you!! Thanks, Bev. Great thoughts.
Hey Debbie, sorry for the delay in circling back to leave a comment. I don’t think any of us enjoy waiting, especially when we are in God’s waiting room. But I’m learning to trust His impeccable timing in all circumstances!
No apology needed! Sometimes there’s a wait before we get through our list. 🙂