09/01/10

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13.1, 2)

One Sunday morning while the husband was in the car waiting impatiently, (intermittently laying on the horn) his wife appeared at the doorway with a half-clad baby in her arms. She leaned through the door and yelled, “How about you coming inside and finish getting the baby ready and let me honk the horn a while!”

We have all from time-to-time become impatient. During most road trips, the children’s favorite question is: “Are we there yet?” Even the ability to wait patiently for Christmas morning to arrive for the opening of presents increases with maturity. As we grow and mature, our patience level should increase – I say should because some people simply grow older without maturing.

A mark of true maturity is one’s ability to trust those of greater maturity.  When I was a small child, I would wait only because my Dad told me to wait and I knew the consequences for being openly impatient.  On the outside I was waiting, but on the inside I was a bundle of nervous energy ready to spring.

In life there are many situations, people, and environmental problems that test our patience. When carefully considered, our ability to be patient in and through the problem rests upon our ability to trust.  By trusting in self, we are limiting our ability to handle the situation. By being impatient with God, we limit our ability to see His awesome hand in working things out for the best.  (We also show our lack of trust by our impatience.)

Once we have done all we can do and exhausted all available options, there is nothing left to do but to be patient and watch God work.  Haven’t you marveled when you have observed how wonderfully God works things out?  Hasn’t it amazed you to see what God has done by answering in a fashion you never dreamed of? We should be quick to remember that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.

He is still the same God – He is faithful when things are good and when they are bad.  The same God who answered decisively in the past is the same God who will amaze you with your current problem.  Be patient – God is working.

Rev. John H Hill