Embrace the Wait

Scripture:  Romans 15:4 -  “These things were written for our learning…”  

The historical account is told in the Bible about the Israelites traveling through the wilderness during their exodus from Egyptian bondage, and how what should have been an eleven day trip took forty years instead!  Before we scoff at their track record of endless complaining, bad attitudes, and ungratefulness, and how their distrustful dispositions delayed God’s deliverance from their wilderness experience, let’s confess that we’ve done the same things, harboring within and without attitudes that suspended the much needed divine intervention of our holy, loving, and omnipotent Savior!

If you’ve ever discounted the connection between our attitude in the midst of a difficult circumstance and God’s deliverance, recall the testimonies of Abraham and Sarah, whose impatience with God’s promise to bless them with an heir, ignited an age-long hostility between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael--one that still rages today.  Esau usurped his own birthright to his brother Jacob for want of a quick meal, leading to deep regret and a spiraling tale of heartache for one and escape for the other. Then there’s the “cautionary tale” life led by Israel’s first chosen king, Saul, who died so tragically after years of failing to obey and wait upon the Lord.  

We’d be wise to learn from their lives the twin disciplines of depending upon God and walking by faith, rather than sight.  (Gen. 25-36; 2 Cor. 5:7) God is a Master Teacher, who is never in a hurry. He really does want us to learn that our extremity is always His opportunity to conform us into the image of Christ in ways that lead more to blessings than heartaches.  Let’s learn from those who’ve gone before!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father:  Forgive us for neglecting to glean from Your Holy Word all of the blessings from the hard lessons that others who’ve gone before had to learn about waiting on You—sometimes at the expense of their very lives!  Often, our impatience and disobedience come at great cost, not only to ourselves, but to others who may be close to us.  Help us to learn from those who’ve gone before.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(by Sis. Denise Diggs)