I hate waiting in line! My two all-time least favorite places to stand in line are at the airport when I am running late and at the car rental counter which in my opinion is the absolutely worst experience. I always seem to get in line behind Sally Sue and Uncle Harry who feel that the ticket counter personnel are tourist guides. “What’s the best route to where we are going?” “We like eating in non-touristy restaurants. Please give us the top ten locations that allows to have the same experience as the folks who are native to this area.” “Do you have a map and can point us to the best places to visit?” “Do you have children? You do? How many? You are so blessed.” They are so over the top friendly and seemingly without a care in the world. Yet, they seem to have no idea how much time they are costing the folks in the queue behind them. Please allow me to get something off my chest…A TICKET COUNTER IS NOT THE TIME TO MEET YOUR BFF!
As much as I may not like it, God uses waiting to help us grow. Why is that? While you are waiting, you are not in control. While you are waiting, the energy of the flesh does not help you out. As a matter of fact, it hurts you and often others who are provoked by your impatience, unkindness, rudeness and hurtful and acidic words and actions.
There are several ways that we can deal with waiting. We either languish in bitterness and a foul attitude, learn to cope passively or recognize that we are stuck and ask for help. God loves the last option. Waiting guides us to cry out to Him. Guess what? When we do, He becomes engaged and we grow.
The following verses are powerful and incisive making it clear how God uses waiting in our lives:
- Deuteronomy 8:2 “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”
- Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
- Psalm 36:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
- Isaiah 40:31(NKJV) “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
While you wait, learn to call out to God. Once you do, you learn from him, grow and are refreshed spiritually. It is worth the wait!
Barnabas Man 