Lamentations 3:25-27 – The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. (ESV)

By nature, I am an impetuous person. My body and mind are currently a little slower, but that's okay when writing — or reading. These days, they would say that when I was young, I had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. So, waiting has been my bête noire. Like most of the world, I want it, and I want it now: safety, healing, food, things, sleep, and winning with God.

I have had a fall lately, and it turns out that I have cracked a few ribs into the bargain, so I need to be careful until I heal. To add insult to injury, literally, we have had storm-force winds that blew some fences down. Having retrieved Daisy, the dog, from next door, I knew the repair could not wait. So, I have been out in the garden stringing up the posts that have broken and replacing the fence that was splintered beyond repair, with no small amount of pain in the doing. I was not happy with God. I thought, "Really? I do not need this! Please help me to get it done", which He did.

Other times, I just have to wait. As I write, I am waiting for acrylic paint to cure on a bass guitar neck. Until the paint cures and is silky smooth, I can go no further with my painting project. It has reminded me of the irony of the saying, "I would rather watch paint dry", because that is exactly what I have to do: wait! Occasionally in the past, I have messed things up by being impatient with applying consecutive layers of paint. This required a do-over, stripping down and then starting again from the bare wood or metal. It takes time. So, now I wait.

It is a hard lesson to face when we see what we know could happen, happen right in front of us, when we should have waited. So, too, our lives and relationships can be like that. Sometimes, we just have to wait and say nothing, because to do otherwise would be a mistake.

Our walk with God can be like that, too. Sometimes, we have to be silent before God. God may allow our lives to be stripped back by some event or situation, and we find out where our faith lies. To rail against Him is a mistake. Our commitment can be instant, but faith grows by walking with Him humbly over time. Sometimes, we have to work through the tough stuff before we know the final outcome — heaven. We have to wait.

Keep the faith!

Prayer: Lord, for all of us wondering, "Do You care?" help us to be still. Bring Your peace and solace, in and through Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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