Today’s Scriptures: Psalm 146:5-10; Ruth 1:6-18; 2 Peter 3:1-10
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:1-10
Staring at the oven timer, anxious with anticipation, my girls could barely contain their excitement. The smell of fresh-baked brownies had invaded the kitchen and taken hold of the last vestige of patience and willpower in all of us. These were brownies that we had planned to make earlier in the day, and all that stood between us and these sweet delicacies were a few moments in a hot oven. Timer chimes, oven mitt on, and the brownies were within our grasp. I sliced and served this chocolatey goodness to us all. The bite that we had been longing for was nothing but pure pain! The brownies were a touch cooler than molten lava.
Patience is not my strong suit. With all the verses in the Bible about waiting on the Lord, I often wonder if I am cut out for this Christian life. When talking to one of my mentors about a friend I had been praying for and trying to minister to, I expressed my frustration about why God would not move in his life. He gave me some of the best advice I've ever received: “God is more like smoking barbecue than microwaving it.” Sure, you can cook food in the microwave quickly, but it won't taste very good. The slow process of smoking is part of what makes it tender and flavorful. Patience is needed. Patience is required.
I know we see broken people, an unjust world, and myriad problems in our lives that we want God to just fix, but God does not work like that. He is truly working all things out for our good, and that means for all of humanity and creation. We must realize that God’s patience with us far exceeds our lack of patience in his redeeming work in this world.
We can find joy in knowing that God’s plans and ways are higher than ours and that he can be trusted with all of them. Joy comes when we release the burden of believing our plan is better than God’s.
For Prayerful Consideration:
- When have you struggled to trust God’s timing and found it difficult to be patient? How did you see His plan unfold over time, and what did you learn through that waiting?
- How might embracing God’s patience and releasing your own expectations help you experience more joy and peace in your daily life?