HATING THE WAITING
By Carolyn Dale Newell
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:4 NKJV
Traffic jams, check-out lines, and waiting rooms. Do you hate to wait? Our real problem with patience occurs while we wait for the test results, the pain to end, the healing to come, or the breakthrough to finally break through.
Even Jesus waited, not just the four days He tarried in reaching Lazarus, but He delayed His own resurrection. Christ revealed His timetable to His disciples on many occasions. Three days in the tomb, but they failed to believe. This resulted in their despair and grief. If they had only understood, Saturday could have been joyous rather than grievous.
Like the remaining eleven, we fail to appreciate future glory. We want our trial to end, now.
During Jesus’ time in the tomb, the women prepared the spices to anoint His body. We make preparations as we linger in our trials. Life seems to go on, but Jesus kept busy in the spiritual realm, during His three-day delay.
Friend, Jesus is busy during our wait too. He works behind the scenes, and like the women, we move forward. Like the disciples, we try to make sense of the senseless.
On September 18, 2006, my world crashed around me. I lost all reason for living, but time continued. God showered me with grace and love. I went as far as to say life was great, but life in heaven would be so much better. No more heartache. No more memories.
Almost ten years later to the day, September 20, 2016, I met a beautiful black Lab. My guide dog, Iva, is a source of boundless joy. Her silliness keeps me laughing. Her unconditional love reminds me of the love of Christ.
Jesus surprised me with this new addition to our family, and Iva gave me a reason to live, not merely survive. During the ten-year wait, Jesus worked. Patience had its perfect work. I have grown in grace and wisdom.
Our microwave world doesn’t offer slow cooker results. In my little kitchen, nothing comes out of my microwave as scrumptious as what comes from the crockpot. Isn’t that true with life? Instant satisfaction robs us of gradual gratification.
You might be waiting, or like me, you might not know you are playing the waiting game. While we wait, Jesus works. While we wait, the world continues to turn. While we wait, we become more like Jesus. While we wait, we gain strength. While we wait, we learn patience, and patience will have its perfect work. Friend, you will lack nothing. Trusting Jesus means trusting His timing.
Lord Jesus, help us slow down. Help us not get in a hurry. Help us see the value in waiting. In Jesus’ name, Amen
DIG DEEPER
Read Mark16.
HIKING THE TRAIL
I challenge you to strive for patience. They say it takes 30 days for a habit to form. What perfect work could patience in 30 days, if we commit to patience. Join me in this challenge!
Copyright 2018 Carolyn Dale Newell.
A Mountain of Faith 