Patiently waiting – The Arrow Preacher

Patience, What’s That?

To me it seems like Christmas morning, even though Christmas isn’t for another 124 days. For me one of the most exciting days a year is when I bring home a new Lego set. Until now, I’ve never done a project as big as the one I’m about to embark on, and I’ve never ordered such a set online either. All day I’ve been watching the window for the FedEx truck, and as the day turns to evening I find my patients is slowly waning. The problem with patience is it’s supposed to be more resilient then what I’ve been displaying today. How often do we pray for something from God, and then after a few days, maybe even a few weeks, and when we don’t get what we’ve asked for, we get frustrated with God? Be honest, I think we’ve all been there. We are a fast food, fast passed kind of people, and we expect God to be able to keep up with our life style. Once in a while we need a swift kick in the you know where, to be reminded of what God’s love and grace truly are.

Genesis 29:20“So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.”We’ll start with this one because it touches home for me. One area my patience isn’t as solid as I’d like, or that I even put much effort into is waiting for God to send me a lovely lady. Of course I realize it’s God’s time, and it’s about what’s best for me, but when it comes to desires of the heart, it’s hard to maintain a positive attitude. I find patience is a subjective thing. As I have recently started a sizable Lego project many people have told me they would not have the patience for such a project. I find that strange because for me I don’t feel it’s about patience, I find it relaxing. An issue with patience for me aside waiting for that particular Lego set to arrive, is traffic. I have a big, huge problem with waiting in traffic. Some of that of course is the PTSD related to Iraq. The thing about patience is it comes differently for everyone. We all have our strengths, and we all have our weaknesses. It’s in those weaknesses we reach for the Father, and we are given the strength to push through. Romans 8:25-26“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

Be sure whatever you’re waiting for, it doesn’t replace God in your life. My Lego set I had been waiting for, for days arrived five minutes prior for me to leave for church. I had waited all day, and when it did arrive I found I was more disappointed. I was barely able to take it out of the shipping box to see it with my own eyes before I had to set it aside and leave for church. Comments were made at church about how appreciated it was that I was there considering the circumstances. (Everyone knows about my love of Lego) This was God’s way of validating my decision to set aside myself for church. That time of worship is important. For me when I sit in traffic, I find (only recently) that’s a good time to have a chat with God. Whatever you find yourself having trouble with go to God with those struggles. Every situation we find ourselves in is an opportunity to praise Jesus and take away a personal lesson, or to spiritually grow. Life isn’t about staying away from situations you don’t like, it’s about being able to deal with them in a Godly way. I could sit in traffic, and I could honk my horn, and swear up a storm, but when people look at me, I wouldn’t be setting a good Christian example. What kind of example are you setting for those around you? People look to you as a Christian, and by the way you represent yourself when things are great, and when things aren’t, people believe how you act is the example for Christians themselves. It’s not an easy thing having that kind of responsibility, but that’s part of carrying your cross. Take a breath, and handle whatever it is you’re dealing with, with grace.

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Patiently Waiting

When Change happens unexpectedly we don’t always understand why. We can’t always see the reason for it, and we can only hope and lean back on faith to except what’s happened. We see in scripture over and over how patience is rewarded. We see the need to trust in God’s plan. We see in Galatians 4:21-22 the author is talking about the repercussions of not following the plan God lays out for us. Abraham was told he would sire children, but as his age increased he became more and more skeptical. He became impatient and took his wife hand madden into his bedchamber and she became pregnant. His actions once outside the will of God had dire consequences that have shaped the known world as we see it today. Eventually he would fall back to God and the promise made to him was kept. Him and his wife did have children.

As it seems opportunities come into my life and leave just as abruptly, it’s a hard life longing for something so deeply and being told by god the time isn’t right. Watching as people come and go and yet as much as it pains me to see them leave, I am not and have always been powerless to stop it. As the rising tide of the flood comes it’s inevitable and we cannot stop it. We are powerless to stop the approaching tornado and the destruction left in it’s wake. We are told the trials would come and to be prepared for them. As I’ve noted there is a difference in training and then the actual mission. Before every mission we had a brief but rarely did the mission go exactly according to plan. We always had to adapt and overcome. We train to know how to react when the plan flies off the rails. Often time disaster strikes when we loose our patience and act impulsively. Life is not a sprint, yet in our time, everyone is in a hurry to get everywhere. We always want everything right away. The problem with patience is when you’re forced to play the long game, it can feel like an eternity when it’s something you desire most.

I’d say one of the hardest moments is when you know something wonderful has come into your life, and when the Devil destroys that hope. For me it feels like the Devil’s games have been never ending and designed to break my hope and my spirits. I won’t lie, the latest attack has taken a horrible toll for me. Just when life seemed to be turning around, and hope seemed stronger then it’s been in over a year, the Devil’s whispers, and fear caused a cascade failure, and everything went like Chernobyl. Sadly the Devil is meddling in my life and just won’t let me have any peace. Philippians 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It’s been difficult for me to follow what I know to be true. The pain left from disappointment is so strong, it’s hard to remain focused on the big picture, and remember that God’s still in control, and his will, will be done, and eventually it’ll work out. Philippians 4:11-14 “11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share[a] my trouble.” Paul knows the difficult road some of us were bound to endure. In his ministry he saw his on share of hardships from beatings, to shipwrecks, to what’s likely a physical ailment that plagued him for a long time. In all things though, and in all areas of his travels, and through all the hardships, he writes that he has found peace in knowing God is still in control, and nothing in this life can remove his salvation in the blood of Jesus Christ.

We must remember even in our impatience a Thanksgiving turkey will not cook faster because we try to will it to happen. The best things in life often take longer to have. We can try to speed up the process, but if we try to go against God’s plan or his wish for us, what we obtain will undoubtedly fail us. The pursuit to contentment starts with faith, prayer, and learning to live more in the moment and take your gaze away from tomorrow.

My Heavenly father, as I watch in disappointment at yet another failure, I lift my plea to you. Please look into my heart and if it be your will, please show me the path to get what I desire most. I have suffered much, and long, and I pray to you to remove this thorn from my side. Please help my broken heart mend, and provide me the courage and strength to keep up the fire, to face another day as I struggle with shame and guilt. My God please hear my prayer and rescue me from the darkness of despair. In your Holy Name, Amen.