I consider myself a fairly patient person most of the time, until I have to put patience into practice (this would be akin to being a fairly disciplined and healthy eater unless I’m in a donut shop, etc.). I found myself in several situations over the past week where I was required to wait well beyond what I had expected. I was reminded that I don’t really like waiting. Waiting for the bus to show up. Waiting for the repairman to arrive. Waiting for my kids to get their shoes and coats on. Waiting, waiting, waiting.
Here’s a couple of things I learned this week in my waiting:
- Waiting allows the “real” Lance to come out and be seen. Life can be a dream when everything is going my way. I’m easy to get along with when things are falling into place the way I expected. Waiting usually brings out the other side of me that I like to keep hidden from the public eye. I can be childish, demanding, rude, selfish and overbearing. Waiting reveals the areas of my character that need to be redeemed and transformed by Christ.
- I’m not in control. Try getting an eight-year-old out the door in no less than ten minutes with multiple reminders, threats and nearly losing your mind (and we were on our way to worship no less). Things don’t always work the way they are supposed to work or they don’t always work in the same way that they did the last time – more waiting. There are so many things that are outside my ability to control. I’m foolish for thinking otherwise.
- There is learning and growing to be gained from waiting. As I was demonstrating my impatience with my oldest son on Wednesday evening, ever so quietly, but pointedly, the Spirit of God was reminding me of the patience that has been shown to me by my Heavenly Father. My ability to lose it over being a couple of minutes late brought to light all the ways in which my Father in Heaven graciously demonstrates His patience and kindness to me in those moments where I’m slow to learn or hesitant to respond to His leading in my life.
The longer I live and follow Jesus, the more I’m convinced that our time spent waiting isn’t just wasted time. I don’t know what you might be waiting for today: healing, a reconciled relationship, a spiritual breakthrough or just a sliver of hope that the Lord is still at work in the midst of a difficult circumstance. Be willing to wait my friends. Be willing to learn in your waiting. Stay faithful to the one who has called you and don’t miss the opportunities to grow as you wait.
Christ’s Peace,
Lance