Waiting

Why is it that our society has become so impatient? We are a very fasted paced people. We want our computer to work in milliseconds. We want to drive through a fast food restaurant and want lunch in 3 minutes. We carry cells phone so we can speak to each other RIGHT NOW! I think all of these things have taught us a terrible lesson about God. God rarely acts NOW.

There are a lot a verses about waiting on the Lord. Here are a few...
Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD , you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD ; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD .
Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Did you see those? My favorite is the Isaiah verse... Blessed are all who wait for Him.

We have become so impatient. We don't want to wait for anything... and most of the time we don't have to wait for much. We have a microwave to cook faster. We have drive through banks and restaurants and mechanics. There are even people who promise that you can get rich NOW. And sadly, there are people that promise that God will work NOW. Our society demands it, so someone has provided it.

Here is what I have learned...
God is never fast. He doesn't offer immediate gratification that I (we) desire. Yes, I have seen God work, but never fast! I believe that God uses our waiting period to grow our souls. How much trouble would I be in if God had answered all my prayers when I prayed them? (Have you seen Bruce Almighty? Bad news!) Waiting for God makes us more dependent on Him. I think is makes me remember to continually go to Him with my desire. God wants to give me things, in HIS time not mine. God is in the business of gift giving because of who He is and whose I am. I am His! I don't receive anything because of who I am our what I have done, but because of God's love. I know that no matter how tired I get of waiting, God never gets tired of waiting on me. He is probably waiting for my heart to get to the right place before He gives me the gift. I love giving gifts so I can not imagine having to wait to give a gift, but God's timing is NEVER wrong.

I have also been thinking about this...
There have been things that I have wanted more than anything when I asked God for it. I waited and waited, but God never gave me what I wanted and eventually the desire to have "it" went away. God knew! I have also wondered if I want things sometimes for no other reason than God wants to give it to me. There have been some strange desires of my heart that seem to come from no where. I think that God gives me (us) those desires because it is something HE has been busy planning. Eventually when He does give our desires to us we are thankful and excited and we give Him the glory. (Which is what it is all about anyway, right?)

So...
Waiting is very hard. Something that never gets easier or more fun. Most of the time God is slow. I may not be ready to receive what I have requested. Maybe all God is waiting in is my relationship with Him to grow, for my faith to deepen and my trust to become stronger. God may be using the "waiting period" to grow our souls.