I think that we've all experienced at least one of those car journeys with small children (and be thankful if you can only think of one! I've had many and now as a grand parent, I'm experiencing it all over again!), where as soon as you've reached the end of your street, they're already calling from the back seat 'Are we there yet?' and they don't stop until you finally arrive. Children are naturally impatient, they can't wait to arrive at the destination and be free to get out of the car and to experience all that your destination has to offer.
If we're being honest with ourselves, it's not only children who suffer with impatience, as adults we have a tendency to react like that, even if the majority of us manage to control ourselves and only verbalise it internally. Patience is not something that comes naturally to most of us! We are surrounded by a world that feeds our expectations and demands. We have grown to expect our food to be fast, our music to be available when and where we want it, TV series to be available to be binge viewed - because how can we be expected to wait a whole week for the next episode? We have 24 hour access to our money with online banking and can shop online at any time of day or night and can even receive items delivered to our door within hours. We also have instant access to everyone's thoughts and lives through an ever growing list of social media platforms. Why do we feel the need to see and hear the thoughts of people that we don't know and who are famous just for being willing to open their lives to public scrutiny, sharing their opinions with anyone who'll listen.
On a side note, if you're on social media at the moment, it's likely that you're being bombarded with the current social media phenomenon, Love Island. Without ever having watched an episode I seem to know the more extravagant contestants, as my Twitter feed seems to be full of who said what to who, as people like and retweet posts. Are our lives so shallow, that we feel the need to spend all our time discussing the antics of a group of people, who appear at first glance to be self centred individuals, who seem to have no discernible talents and just want to be rich and famous? In terms of morals, what is this TV show teaching people? How much is it affecting the participants long term mental well being? Shouldn't we be concerned that two previous contestants on the show have committed suicide?
Sorry for the diversion, back to waiting.
When we're told to wait, it goes against everything that we've come to expect, it's our right to demand things now! We've all heard the quote 'life is about the journey, not the destination!' Well, what if it's not just a good inspirational quote to have on a fridge magnet or coaster, but what difference would it make to your life if in fact it was true? I am not saying that our desire and conditioning to expect instant gratification is wrong (don't forget that in the book of Genesis, it says that in the beginning God spoke and the world was made instantly), but I once heard a preacher say that when we pray for something, God has three answers: Yes, No and Wait. We all get excited when we see a positive answer to prayer, but what if the answer is No or Wait. And how do we even know the difference between these two answers?
As we journey through life, don't be afraid to ask the questions of faith. It shows a desire to know more of God and want to develop a deeper relationship with him.
I came across a blog last year from Kris Vallotton (from Bethel Church in Redding, California) on the issue of waiting. In his opening paragraph he says:
"Waiting on God—this can be one of the most challenging aspects of a Christian walk. Perhaps you know that there’s a destiny on your life and want it to go ahead and start already, or maybe you’re hungry to be influential and are seeking out opportunities to lead. The waiting season is important but it’s one that most people want to avoid, thinking that it’s boring or painful... but what if we realised that the Lord is not a distant God who is withholding good things from us? What if we shifted our perspective from seeing waiting as withholding and rather as preparation?"
You can check out Kris' full blog by clicking here.
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