Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)
You’ve gone through all the prompts on the 800 number that you called. Finally you get to request assistance from a real person when you hear a recording that says that your approximate wait time is five minutes. Suddenly your reason for calling doesn’t seem all that important anymore, because that’s far too long to be on hold. In today’s society, instant gratification has become an expectation. Through technology we can have immeasurable amounts of information almost immediately. We can even circulate our most private thoughts to a worldwide audience of strangers who can suddenly become instant friends, many of whom we come to realize we don’t care for all that much. But we’re in luck, because now there’s an anti-social networking app that helps you avoid those friends you don’t like. It’s a wonderful life.
An instant gratification lifestyle can breed a personality of impatience which doesn’t help us when we’re in traffic or in line at the crowded grocery store, expecting news about a college or job application, waiting for that Mr. or Miss right to come into our life, or worse, agonizing over the results of a biopsy to determine whether cancer cells are present in our body. Our culture is ever-focused on speed. 3-G connections evolve into 4-G connections, and we are always anticipating the next best thing. Conditioned to believe all that is good is quick and easy, our Christian values can easily become compromised. All of a sudden we develop thoughts that studying the Bible is too tedious, and waiting for answers to prayer takes much too long. And if we’re smart, we come to realize that this ‘gotta have it now’ attitude will have a detrimental effect on our spiritual life if we don’t keep it under control.
Patience is mentioned time and time again in scripture. The writings of Paul tell us that patience is part of the fruit of the spirit. From patience we acquire self-discipline. We learn to look beyond the here and now and choose to live for a greater purpose, that of eternity.
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:1-3)
God gives everlasting power to those who wait upon Him to perform what He has promised. What we receive through faith will last forever.
A few years ago, there was a iPhone commercial that used the tag line, “There’s an app for almost anything.” And there’s one for waiting as well. It’s a three letter word called G-O-D, known as the “giver of endurance.” (Romans 15:5) Without a doubt, it’s the best connection you’ll ever have.
REFLECTION: What situation demands your patience today? Are you willing to wait for an answer by placing your trust in God’s timing? While you are waiting, how can you demonstrate your faithfulness?
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