“Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).
The man spent a significant portion of his life in New York City. He was usually waiting in lines - at the bank, in the doctor’s waiting room, boarding a bus, entering the emergency room, getting gas for his car, checking out at the grocery store, buying a movie ticket, in restaurants, at McDonalds, and even at the Motor Vehicle Department, where he had to take a numbered ticket when renewing his driver’s license or updating his car’s license plates. Waiting is a way of life in that man’s world!
You’ve sometimes found yourself having to wait in long, slow-moving lines, right? If you move to a faster line, hoping to get ahead, it may backfire! Everyone walks out the door before you get to the front of your new line. Who enjoys waiting?
We live in a society whose motto is “got to have it, and I’ve got to have it now.” Amazon Prime provides fast, one-day delivery (for paying a higher monthly fee). The drivethrough lane offers faster service, but you wait for your morning cup, as you notice those entering the store and quickly leaving. Fast food! Sure about that?
What does our Bible verse mean?
When you pray for the Lord to help, do you expect His immediate response? What if His waiting is meant to teach you patience?
The wisest man who ever lived was King David’s son, Solomon. Many of his wise sayings are found in the Bible books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
Solomon writes: “Do not be quick with your mouth or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes5:2). There was a young man who thought he should have received a job promotion. In an interview with his supervisor, he spouted many words about waiting “long enough.” It didn’t go well for him.
When you expect God to answer prayer in your time, are you telling Him to give His immediate response? When praying, are you willing to wait until it’s His time to answer?
Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and FOLLOW Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew16:24-25). Did you see it? Jesus indicates that we are not to get ahead of Him but FOLLOW Him!
Today, are you ready to begin following Jesus? Will you wait for His leading and follow Him?