In our right now society, I find it hard to grasp the idea that some things take time. I am bombarded with commercials, slogans, and businesses who are consistently telling me I can have what I want as fast as I can get there and buy it. I don’t even have to wait in lines, like Starbucks or Paneras, just order via the app and it is waiting for you. How does any of this help me understand there are still things that won’t happen overnight, or let alone the next few months?
I haven’t even the patience to plant from seeds any more. The local nursery provides plants with blossoms, buds and fruit already visible. I want to see the beauty, smell the gloriousness, and know that it won’t take so long. But it is costing me. When I am constantly feeding this now mentality, I have parts of me brimming with frustration as areas of my life aren’t coming along as fast as I would like. What am I to do?
As I look at the stories in the Bible, many of the characters endured great waiting times to see the beauty God was bringing forth. Moses felt for his people, the Israelites, who were slaves in the land of Egypt. His heart was moved by this wrong he saw and in trying to ease one man’s beating, committed murder. In fear, he departs to another country. Over time, 40 years in fact, the Lord comes to him and shares His plan to rescue and set His people free with Moses leading them out of Egypt. Moses saw the problem, but reacted with impatience and no plan. Rather than seeking God and His plan, 40 years were spent hiding in fear. Even God’s plan didn’t unfold over night. It all took time.
David’s story is another one which transpires over a great deal of time. God sent Samuel on a mission to anoint the next king of Israel, since He rejected Saul as the continued king. God would disclose to Samuel whom He had chosen. After all the sons of Jesse had been paraded before Samuel, God reveals His chosen successor, the youngest son of Jesse, David. After the anointing, Samuel continues on to Ramah and David appears to go about his life like normal. It is unclear exactly what was shared with David during the anointing ceremony, but the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him from that day forward. David tends to the sheep, plays the lyre for the King, kills a giant, served in Saul’s army, married Saul’s daughter, and spent time on the run…evading Saul and his men as they hunted to kill him. 22 years pass between his anointing and the start of his reign as king, but it is only over Judah. It takes another 7 years before he is crowned king over all of Israel. So much time.
Even in the beginning as God shared His intent to send a Savior, the fruition of such a Savior spans generations. From the first mention in Genesis 3, on through the prophets like Isaiah, mankind has had his eyes searching and seeking the promised Savior. Even now, after His first coming, we continue to wait and watch for His return. This, too, is spanning generations. Time seems to be moving…slowly by…when it comes to our rescue and reunion with our Heavenly Father. But I am reminded, “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.” (II Peter 3:9) Slowness is not something I am overly familiar with these days.
Slowness, characterized by lack of speed, is not something that many of us would recognize as common place these days. That is OUR understanding of slowness. I wonder if God’s slowness, His understanding of slowness, is just that…a lack of speed so that we have a chance to repent and experience fellowship with Him. Maybe, these things I am wishing to be resolved faster are opportunities to take time to fellowship and commune with Him. That is what He created us for…relationship. It might help for me to engage in my relationship with Him when I am feeling the push for things right now and allow Him to reformulate my understanding of slowness to His understanding.
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