Feb. 1, 2011
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Waiting can be a good thing
From the Pulpit Are you presently playing the waiting game? Maybe you are waiting on a job, or waiting on Mr. Right, or waiting on a medical test report. You could be waiting for a delivery to arrive, or waiting on an important call, or waiting for a personal crisis to be resolved. If you are like most people, you don't enjoy waiting. We Americans detest waiting so much that we have invented microwave ovens, instant food, drive-through lanes, smart phones, personal computers, self-checkouts, faster Internet service, and more. I don't like waiting, either. I agree with comedian Dave Barry who said, “Waiting is mental torture.” One Internet source states that the phrase “I hate waiting” has appeared in at least 28 movies. Rapper, Jay-Z, sings “I got no patience and I hate waitin.” Put me in a long checkout line and I go bonkers. Of course, there is that famous phrase “Good things come to those who wait.” Why is waiting so hard? Because it feels like you are swimming in a sea of uncertainty. When you wait you have placed control into the hands of someone else. Also, you keep thinking about what you are waiting for and that makes you feel anxious. Then there's the possibility that what you are waiting on might not come. Have you ever considered that waiting can actually be a good thing? Waiting helps you keep life in perspective. Is what you are waiting for so important that you are justified in pitching a tantrum in public, or yelling at a cashier or server? Periods of waiting let us know that our priorities might not be as urgent as we think. In addition, periods of waiting can be great times to think and make better decisions. I know of several times in my life when I have delayed a big purchase to give me more time to think. In the end, waiting prevented me from making an impulsive purchase. Also, waiting does build our patience. The Bible acknowledges this truth in James 5:17: “See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is.” A farmer can't do much to hurry up his crops. Crying and panicking wouldn't help. So he simply waits, and waits patiently. Next is the truth that waiting plays a role in building relationships. When you wait on another person you trust that person will keep his word, or follow through on her promise. When that person comes through you have warm feelings toward that person. Best of all, times of waiting grow our faith in God. At the heart of waiting is trusting. In fact, one of the ways God matures us is to place us in situations where we are forced to wait on Him and trust Him. Oftentimes, while waiting on God, we seek Him. We spend more time in prayer, more time reading the Bible, more time meditating on God. This is why Psalm 37:7 teaches us to “rest in the Lord and wait patiently on Him.” If you have prayed about something and are waiting on God, remember that God's delays don't stem from His inability but from His wisdom. As you wait, trust Him. God is doing His work of stretching and growing you. This is the real reason good things come to those who wait. Gary Hardin is pastor of Enon Grove Baptist Church in Cedar Bluff. He and his wife, Linda, live in Centre. Comments can be sent to: garyhardin@tds.net.
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