09/15/2021
Are we capable of waiting on God without it harming our faith? Is our patience short lived, and our perseverance nearly nonexistent? In this modern era of instant gratification in which everything is about ourselves, and what we want, patience and perseverance are very rare commodities it seems. There is no place that this is any more evident, nor damaging, than in our spirituality, and faith. Yet despite this, God continues to ask us to be patient as we wait on Him, and to persevere in our belief by loving, remaining faithful, and trusting in Him. But are we so conditioned to expect everything we want right now that our faith fades when we go through periods of quiet? Are we able to love, and worship our God, when what we ask of Him is a long time in coming?
“And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.”
Hebrews 6:15 ESV
There is no time when waiting is any harder to bear than when we are suffering, or going through some great trial in our lives. We pray fervently, and tearfully, for relief, and ask the Lord to lift our burden, to blow away our troubles, but sometimes all we hear is the gentle rustling of leaves as a soft breeze blows over us while we pray… no evidence of the mighty wind we have asked for. David experienced this, and wrote the twenty second psalm. Then many years later Jesus felt this same silence of God and repeated David’s words from the cross…
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”
Psalm 22:1-2 ESV
Considering this, is there any wonder that so many of us call out in this way as we wait on God? We too can be met with apparent silence when we pray. God asks us to wait in much the same way that he asked David, Jesus, and so many others throughout the Bible. The question becomes this… can we remain hopeful, and strong in our faith, as we trust in the promises of God; while we wait on Him? In this age when waiting is done in seconds and nanoseconds, can we do so for days, years, and lifetimes without losing our faith? To render this into fewer words… can we be patient, and persevere in our faith always?
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 5:3-6 ESV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for our lessons in patience, and perseverance, as we go through the trials of life, and the quiet times of prayer. We ask that you strengthen us in these capabilities Father so that the rapid pace of today’s world doesn’t grind us up, and destroy us, and our faith in you. We are being conditioned to be intolerant, short tempered, and reluctant to stay any course for the long term by a society that wants everything right now. Help us to find our peace and rest in you, and to walk faithfully the long fulfilling journey towards eternity with you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is not bound by time, and who not only loves us in days, but loves us eternally. Praised be your name for the prayers you answer quickly, but praise you more for the waiting and quiet times that lead us to be patient in our faith, and to persevere in our love for you. Merciful are you Lord as you wait patiently on us to call out to you, and proclaim our faith in you through Jesus Christ. Perseverant are you who worked out your plan for our redemption from the foundations of the earth, and waited until time was full to send your Son Jesus to redeem us. Wash us now in His blood, and cover us with your grace, as we wait patiently for His return, and help us as we remain firm in our faith every day; whether through the silence of prayers yet answered, or the thunder clap of promises fulfilled instantly. Walk with us Father, and call us your own, wipe away our tears, and ease our suffering by your very presence, not by catering to our intolerance, and need for instant gratification, but by the promise of eternity to come.
“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”
Revelation 3:10-11 ESV
Rich Forbes