Impatience

Sometimes there is a wait. For the phone call or the envelope in the mailbox. And yes, for the email or the notification online. You may wait for the ferry. Or for your favorite team to win a game. Growing up, it was the wait for the school bus in the morning.

Someone told you they’d send it. Or predicted it would surely happen, eventually. Or the historical data was pretty trustworthy … the school bus arrived at the end of our driveway every school day at 730 in the morning. Why wouldn’t it do so today? But it was hard to wait in the early morning chilly air with your brother being, well, a boy!

In Acts 13, the Apostle Paul shares a little history lesson reminding the Men of Israel and you who fear God of what their God had done in the past … chose them, grew their number drastically, led them out of slavery, and through a season in the wilderness. Ultimately, God led them to the land promised to their Hebrew forefather, Abraham, (way back in Genesis 15.18).

The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years. Acts 13.17-20

Four hundred and fifty years! That is quite a wait through some road trips and detours and spiritual meanderings … a long time to wait through the generations. But for those who remained faithful, who came back to the Lord with humility and obedience, it was worth the wait. Paul’s summary shows how the Lord God has always loved, provided for, and shown mercy to His people. It is the same love that brought the Son of God to redeem and rescue us, because we could not, cannot, save ourselves.

Next time you find yourself frustrated or even about to lose your temper over whatever is your waiting thing, take a moment to reflect on how waiting with a humble and patient heart, seeing God’s hand in your situation, can move the position of your heart from impatient to tolerant to others-focused. To God focused. To gratitude and patience. Waiting can be a good place to experience God’s caretaking.

Blessings, Colleen

All Scripture is from English Standard Version (ESV) unless stated otherwise.