Time Constraints

You know, I’ve probably written on this subject before, but it’s something that I sometimes struggle with and that God has been trying to teach me.

Waiting on God.

First of all, in our culture today, waiting on anything is difficult. In our society of instant gratification, instant response, instant communication, everything is instant. So, when we ask God for things, I think we sometimes expect instant results. I hate to break it to you—that’s not the way it works. Dang it, right? I struggle with this concept just as much as everybody else. To be frank, I am a pretty patient person, but even my patience wears thin at times. Another question is that of God hearing our prayers. When we don’t quickly receive the answer we want to our prayers, we tend to assume that God didn’t even hear us. That opens a door to other doubts that are not beneficial for our faith.

“God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”

-Psalm 53:2

So, there’s an answer to that. If God is looking down from heaven for those who are seeking Him, you don’t think He hears your prayers? I don’t know what you pray for. I know the things I pray for. Some seem like petty little things compared to the greater purpose of being on this earth. But, we must remember that God’s timing is not our timing. His ways are not our ways. And, honestly, I’m glad they’re not. The ways of this world are not exactly fool-proof. So, what is this greater purpose in life?

“‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant from the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.'”

-Isaiah 42:6-7

Well, there’s one greater purpose right there. We are here to spread God’s love, guidance, and wisdom. We are all here for a much greater purpose than just living life. There is wisdom in waiting. What are we waiting for? God’s greater purpose to occur. God is continuously “making us” into who we are meant to be in Christ. But, that doesn’t change the fact that waiting is hard. Raise your hand if you’re 25 and don’t have a steady boyfriend. Raise your hand if you haven’t gotten a promotion. Raise your hand if you haven’t traveled across the world recently. Raise your hand if you’re not married and don’t have any kids. Raise your hand if you’re in-between jobs. Raise your hand if you haven’t found your niche in your career. I could go on. Everything about this world says that you should have what you want when you want it. And, for those that don’t, you’re falling behind. Don’t fall for that lie. Waiting is hard in a world where everything is centered around instant gratification. I’ve heard this saying so many times: if God is making you wait, you’re in good company (just look in the Bible). Which, is true, although it can feel like the opposite sometimes. In case you’re wondering why God hasn’t given you the answer you think you deserve, or that He hasn’t done it quickly enough, here’s this verse:

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts…'” 

-Isaiah 55:8-9

We have to stop thinking that the phrase “God wants what is best for me” means “God is going to give me what I want.” God knows things about your life, He knows your heart, He knows when you are ready for something. So, in the meantime, we need to wait. We need to wait on God’s timing. But, that also means that we need to give up the need to know and the need to control everything in our lives, which is not easy. It takes a village. Needing control is the enemy of peace. Needing to know the method is the enemy of hopeful expectation. The waiting is hard, but you have to hold onto the promise that the waiting is going to be worthwhile. Thanks for reading.

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

-Ecclesiastes 7:8

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

-Micah 7:7