Wait
The familiar box waited just outside the garage door. A birthday present from the far away.
I love Amazon! Orders arrive right on time without fail. In fact, they have been known to be a day or two early. They even tell me when my order has been shipped and assure me it will be there as promised.
We have become accustomed to immediate gratification in our high tech world. A simple “click” and whole books appear within a matter of seconds. Texts fly back and forth through cyberspace at amazing speed. Gone are the days when we patiently waited for that special letter to arrive in the mail.
I’ve been wondering if a little bit of that mentality hasn’t spilled over into other areas of our lives – specifically our prayer-lives. Too often our prayers become a bullet list of things we want the Lord to take care of – quickly please. Perhaps I should only speak for myself.
There are some prayers, prayed with a quiet desperation and a sense of urgency. I need to hear from heaven, and I need an answer now. When the “yes” comes quickly, there is gratitude and rejoicing. Even the “no” can be accepted with a measure of grace because at least I know I’ve been heard. It’s the “wait” that stretches my faith.
I’m not good at waiting. It causes me to doubt and question – and the doubts can run deep:
Does He hear? Does He care? Is He even really there? If He is then, why? Why will He not answer? Is it possible I’ve angered Him in some way?
Rational or otherwise, they drop like weights on a hurting heart.
The truth is, sometimes the answer is wait – legitimate, real and with purpose. He promised He hears every prayer:
“Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” Psalm 116:2
It is a picture that brings me comfort during those times of waiting. Imagine the great God of heaven and earth bending down to listen to your small voice. Though thousands, or even millions, of other voices might be bombarding heaven at that same moment, He hears yours as if it were the only one. His is a listening heart.
In those seemingly silent times, I believe, He whispers back to me: “Will you trust Me; do you love me enough to trust Me?”
I can never plummet the depth of His wisdom or exhaust His great love. There is something deeper than ask and receive. The Lord is never idle while we wait. There is soul-work – His gentle molding and shaping to make me all He longs for me to be. There is a wisdom that sees beyond the deep longing of my heart and into what is best.
When we place our hope in Him, no matter the out-come, we find blessings we could never have imagined. Peace and joy come to the heart that trusts – priceless gifts from the One who loves you too much to settle for anything but His best.
Be assured – He is always listening.
Blessings,
Linda
awesome post.
“wait – legitimate, real and with purpose” – excellent. We live in a microwave world, but sometimes, God’s a crock pot, slowly cooking for maximum results. Thanks for sharing!
Susan
Terrific Word! ?
Thank you for the reminder, Linda that He does hear all our prayers. And you are not the only one that sometimes gets impatient.