faith equals wait
I often think about my own faith wondering, “Is my faith growing, increasing and becoming stronger?” I am not talking about in a general sense, meaning when I speak of my faith - my entire spiritual state - I mean my trust, my faith in God, my resting in Him.
One way I often consider if my faith has increased is by looking at my patience and my ability to wait. I think one of the true measures of our faith is our waiting. Having faith when the answer comes quickly is not a real measure of our faith and trust in God - those celebrated for their faith in the New Testament book of Hebrews chapter 11; they were patient, trusting people who waited. Noah waited for rain; Abraham waited for a land and a son; Moses waited by a well in a foreign land (for 40 years); God’s people waited in a desert wandering for too many years (some patiently, others very reluctantly) for the promised land; and on it goes…
One of the measures (I think a pretty profound one) of our faith is how we wait? Do I wait expectantly for God to answer or to relieve my pain - or do I wait pouting; grumbling and/or bitterly? My hope is that as I look back at my life I see my faith increasing and that I see that evidenced by my ability to wait patiently and with hope in my God.
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3.8-9]
What a perfect picture to illustrate your thoughts! I too am learning how to wait as I watch God work in my 18-year-old daughter’s life, who has endured more in the past year than many do in a lifetime. God’s loving hands have sifted many grains of sorrow, the last of which was a broken neck suffered in a wreck 1 1/2 weeks after starting college. She is still in a halo after having had surgery which failed to adequately brace her C2 and C3 vertebrae. He is faithful. Slow, but faithful:) He gave me Isa. 27:2-6 to pray for her 3 months before I began to know how much those prayers would cost. His word is sufficient. The anchor holds. The Rock is solid beneath my feet. She still holds Him at arm’s length, but one day, “A vineyard of delight!”
Jena - thank you for taking time to comment. Waiting is NEVER easy. It is even more difficult when it is waiting on behalf of one we love so much. My prayers will accompany yours that God and His people will stand for you when you can’t and surround your daughter and your entire family in practical ways.
Psalm 27