Most weekdays I go down to the riverside park near work for lunch. It’s a wonderful break in the middle of a stressful day, just sitting and listening to the sounds of nature while I eat my lunch. The sunshine, the laughter of other picnickers, the breeze in the trees, all soothe my soul and prepare me to face another afternoon of seeing patients and shuffling paper.
There is one stressful part of these excursions, however – getting there! I have to cross a couple of busy streets and waiting at the crosswalk bugs me. I press the button for the crosswalk signal and I hear this annoying computerized voice say, “Wait, wait, wait.” I don’t have time to wait! I’m in a hurry to go relax!
Do you know what the hardest command in scripture is? “Wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14). Waiting is not something most humans do well. We want everything NOW, and sometimes even that’s not soon enough. We want our food fast, our cars faster, and our internet 5G. And when it comes to answers to prayer, well, yesterday would be nice!
Fortunately, God doesn’t do things according to our schedule. His answers always come right on time – never too late and never too early. In 2 Peter 3:9, the apostle reminds us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
God is looking at the big picture and He’s not going to move until the time is right. Until then we have to wait, but waiting is rarely easy. That’s why the rest of Psalms 27:14 says, “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
It takes a strong person to wait, a person with a strong faith and a heart made new by the blood of Christ. The only way to get this kind of strength is by daily surrendering to Christ, studying His Word, and exercising our faith by claiming His promises.
So, this week, if you find yourself at a crossroads and all you’re hearing from God is an annoying, “Wait, wait, wait,” exercise a little faith. He’s got everything under control. He’s working “all things…together for good…” (Romans 8:28) and will make “everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). So instead of fuming and fusing about the delay, “be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.” You’ll be glad you did!