Wait Times

I've learned a valuable lesson this Christmas season.

Don't wait until one specific day to conduct an overwhelming majority of your Christmas shopping. The kids knew this happened over the weekend, as they went out for a few hours with Grandpa and Grandma to do some shopping of their own. All had a great time.

However, for the rest of the weekend, every couple of minutes, one question had been placed on "repeat."

"Can we open presents yet?"

Can we open presents yet?

Can we open presents yet?

Is it Christmas yet?

Then this exchange, which my wife didn't find as funny as I did.

Yes, you can open presents!
Really?
Yes, as soon as today is Christmas. Is today Christmas?
No.
Then no, you can't open presents.

Is this how we are in our faith? We get a glimpse of what God might have in store for us and rather than wait for the destined time, we push on God. Can we do this? Can we go here? How will this happen? When? Where? With you? Can we go yet?

Or worse... we don't get a clear, or even a reasonable indication, of what God might have in store, and we start searching, not knowing what we are getting into and where we might be headed; stepping into unknowns that we have no place digging.

It's a frustrating time for sure. I understand. I've been there. Multiple times. And each time has some point of stress and agony.

If this is dangerous ground for the believer, all the more for those in ministry. Impatience in personal matters can cause some serious damage. Impatience in ministry raises the potential for inevitable ruin in some form. I pray that it doesn't; but it's hard to miss how it wouldn't. Come to think of it, I watched it once. They've come out stronger for it, but it was a hard road full of difficult questions and conversations and the congregation suffered in the process.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for those struggling with the waiting and anticipation of what God has in store and the promises that await. For those who have acted on the impatience or perhaps, misunderstanding of the hand of God and are now in places of difficulty, pray God's wisdom and direction... that He would guide their steps and direct their paths, as they are rerouted back to the place God has in store for them. Pray that the spirit of defeat would not detour or derail them; may frustration not dissuade them, but may the wake up each day, confident in the hand of God to sovereignly direct them. For whatever the next steps are, may there be a peace and comfort; that God is still in control, full of grace, mercy and compassion... willing and able to redirect us back to where we need to be and focus on what is at hand.

Worry not,
Neither be anxious,
For in due time, may God place you
Exactly where He will use
To bring glory and honor to Him
In ways that are beyond your control and ability.
Wait on Him and seek His face.
For He knows what you have need of, before you ask or think.

- PNC

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