Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he
exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him. (Isaiah 30:18 )
As a member of the microwave generation, I do not like waiting.
Every aspect of our society seems to be geared toward having it
all and having it now: instant rice, instant oatmeal, instant mashed
potatoes, instant lunch, instant pudding, instant coffee, instant replay,
instant messaging, and instant credit. We are the nation of instant
gratification.
I have a certain habit I’ve been waiting for the LORD to remove from me
for years. Each time I try and quit, it’s just another failure. I tried again
today and failed, even after I prayed last night that I would wake up this
morning a changed man, with that habit just removed from me.
I want it just gone. I don’t want to have to go through the pain and
struggle. I don’t want it be difficult. Just take it away, LORD!
I want it instant. I want it nooooow!
Oh, and how the enemy likes to remind me of what a failure I am. He
loves for me to believe I am not worthy of His love. He loves to accuse
me of being worthless and weak.
Yes, I am weak. But when I am weak, He is strong.
Every failure is not a lesson in my weakness, but a preparation for
victory. It’s a lesson in humility. It’s a lesson in patience.
So, how do I tell the difference between patience and procrastination?
How do I know if it’s just the wrong time or if I’m making excuses
because I don’t want to? We’ve all heard someone say, “Hey, I’m in no
hurry. I’ve got all day.”
God has all of eternity.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but
is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all
should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 )
God has never given me anything too soon or too late. He is perfect in
His timing—in the fullness of time.
And so, I will wait, knowing Jesus loves me even in my weakness. He
loves me even in my impatience. I am a child of the One True King.
(For those of you struggling with regret, despair, and the lie that you’re
just not good enough, try an internet search for the full set of lyrics from
the song “Hello My Name Is” by Matthew West. Here’s a sample.)
Today’s Praise
What love the Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King.