Today on the blog we’re taking a small peek at a big question – ‘Why wait?’
Let me be clear, I may be the world’s worst at waiting (ask my hubby). I can’t stand it. I want to make things happen – to take things into my own hands – now.
Sometimes I’ll even cheat; take shortcuts to get myself where I’m going sooner. Just yesterday I was reading a book and I couldn’t wait for the end – so, I skipped a good chunk of the middle and read the last two chapters. Mission accomplished.
So, why wait?
Have you ever watched the elaborate ritual of a flag ceremony in the military?
Four, or more, officers dressed in severely pressed uniforms, standing ramrod straight, their faces expressionless, each carrying a corner of a small neatly folded cloth which they carefully begin unfolding, side by side with military precision. As they unfold the cloth they hold, the pattern of the cloth becomes visible – the red and white stripes clearly seen, next the blue background with white stars of our country’s flag are revealed. It’s a thing of beauty – the mere unfolding of a flag.
Our life, too, unfolds, if we let it. But, often we don’t want to wait for the unfolding, or for directions.
Sometimes we’re afraid to listen to God’s input because we don’t really want to hear what He has to say. He might disagree with my plan – my way. Or, maybe we started with ‘His plan’, but got weary waiting for an answer – or the answer – we wanted.
We unwrap life as if it were our favorite present under the Christmas tree. We rip at it – we tear at the wrappings – we pull off the bows and ribbons – then, we grab open the box with scarcely a breath, anxious to get to the present inside.
So, why wait?
“They soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His plan to unfold….So, He gave them what they asked for.”
Psalm 106:13,15
There is a verse in this passage that scares me. It’s what happens if we don’t wait…
“So, He (God) gave them what they asked for.”
Psalm 106:15
Does that put fear in your soul? Sometimes what we want so desperately isn’t good for us.
How many of us have had a child beg for something that wasn’t in their best interest? I remember one of our daughters used to beg us to have sleepovers at a dear friend’s house, but the goal at every sleepover was to stay up all night. She thought this was exciting and fun, but her mood the next day showed that the consequences of this fun was not healthy.
Have you ever got what you wanted and later realized it wasn’t very good?
God’s plan unfolds as we seek Him and it’s in the wait – the listening time, where we wait for directions – for confirmation – for that still, small voice to speak softly to my heart that the path becomes clear.
So, why wait? Because God’s plans unfold as we wait on Him.
May we listen to God’s leadings through His Word. May we be willing to surrender our plans, our very ways, and may our hearts be strengthened to wait for His plans to unfold in our lives.
“The unfolding of His Word gives light.”
Psalm 119:13
linking up with the ladies at WelcomeHeart, #thisdaygodsway
