Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he will strengthen heart:  wait, I say on the Lord.”  Psalms 27:14

The taste of this verse is bitter to modern man.  Even the most devout must admit to a measure of impatience.  Much of the best of life is lost because of it.  We become restless and irritable when that email  does not get to someone within a minute or so after sending it.  If dinner is five minutes late….if a departure is delayed thirty seconds by another family member.  I’m sure you can add some of you own irritations to this.

And, at times we even get impatient with God.  We decide the interval is too great between our prayer and its answer, or between our work and its result. So much like Job, we call God on the carpet:  ”I cried out to you, but you do not hear me” (Job 30:20).

Patience is not an easily learned attribute.  I have heard it said that there is something harder than believing….that’s waiting!  All of us know this is true that has stood by the bedside of a critically ill child…or anxiously waited for the test results or patiently prayed for the return of a wayward child.

Patiently pursuing that which is gradual is more difficult than accepting immediate results.  But we should not despair.  Like those fishermen who “fished all night but caught nothing” the moment may be near when God is ready to bless our labor with success.  He is faithful and will reward our patient waiting.

Father, we have become so spoiled in our generation expecting immediate gratification for everything.  We get angry and irritated when things don’t happen on our timetable or go exactly like we want.  Forgive us Lord and help us to trust in your timing.   Help us to accept the fact that waiting on You will ultimately strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with you.  Amen