Be
patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the
farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the
autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7 NIV)
Who likes to wait? Nobody that I know, and
definitely not me. We’re spoiled by this lightning-paced, technological age. If
something doesn’t happen right away, it’s easy to get disappointed, or worse, to
despair that it will never happen.
Pastor Ben at Faith Alive in Jos, Nigeria reminds us that
God doesn’t follow our calendars. We know from the Bible that there is a time
for everything. In HIS time, God made everything beautiful, and in HIS time, He
sent his son to die for our salvation. How quickly we forget.
How long should we wait? Until we get what
God promises us in the Bible. Abraham and Sarah waited for their promised son
and they got him. Simon waited for the promised Messiah in the temple and saw
him.
While we’re waiting, it’s good to beware of
trials and temptations. Like Ishmael, it’s best not to manipulate things before
their time. Sarah pressured Abraham to have Ishmael and the result was sorrow
and pain.
“Many people,” Pastor Ben says, “because of lack of patience to wait
have made a shipwreck of their faiths. They decide to take shortcuts and jump
through the windows as they lack patience to cue through the main door.”
Instead, he encourages us to look for God’s
blessings during the waiting period. We can come to know God better, deepen our
maturity, and prepare far greater testimonies when God does provide the
harvest.
Pastor Ben ends by saying, “He who made the
promise is faithful. It is never too late for God. His delay does not mean
denial, so wait a little bit more. Do not give up; hold to your confession and
confidence in Christ.”
In other words, live as people who believe in God's faithfulness. .
(I recommend the book pictured above for anyone who's in a prolonged period of waiting.)
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