Waiting…

Have you been waiting? Expecting? Wondering why “it” has not happened, yet? Have you asked, “Why?” Have you wet your pillow with tears of disappointment and disillusionment? If that is the case, I appreciate the fact that you like our “Finally Friday” feature so much, lol.

Why is waiting so hard for us, on one hand, while on the other hand, we can we enjoy a day at the amusement park where we wait in line for hours for a few seconds of excitement? Then, why do we get irate when our hamburger takes more than a few seconds to prepare at the “fast-food” restaurant.

Context counts. Every context informs our expectations. Read that again. (Every context informs our expectations) The reason we sacrifice real taste and atmosphere for the utilitarian atmosphere and, dare I say, disappointing flavor of fast food is time. We want it quick. We want it now. We want to satisfy our hunger without a real time investment.

The unfortunate reality is, though, that we have surrounded ourselves with technology and habits that deliver like a “quick serve” restaurant and believe that translates into life, in general, including our expectations of God. We treat prayer like a drive-thru, complete with a God who says, “May I take your order, please?” Yes, I understand that is an extreme, but, let’s be honest and confess that we have all had those moments.

Control counts. More often that not, our issue with waiting is a lack of control. I have publicly confessed, often, that I am a fixer. Issues and events that are out of my control to change or fix continue to challenge my need to reach in and fix it. For most of us, this lack of control becomes a bigger problem with the passing of time. The enemy of our souls capitalizes on that, too, whispering deceptions about how a God who does not step in and deliver must not love us, or even worse, chooses to ignore our plight.

Tired of waiting? Welcome to the club. Throughout our history, those who are God-followers have been challenged by the wait. That is part of our story. We can glean enormous encouragement by reading the good, the bad, and the ugly results of how we handle waiting.

For today, let’s read 2 Peter 3:3-10:

³ First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” ⁵ They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, ⁶ through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. ⁷ But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless. ⁸ But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

2 Peter 3:3-10

The Lord is not slow about his promise. I sometimes can be. Sorry to keep you waiting. It’s finally Friday…uh, Saturday!