Growing Impatient? Tired of Waiting?
Pharaoh told Moses and the Children of Israel to go, leave Egypt (Ex 10:24); then three verses later (v27) we read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not let them leave! Why the divine delay? It's often said, 'God's delays are not necessarily his denials.' Delays are often, not always, God's doing.
There are at least two reasons:
1. We aren't ready for the next assignment (Ex 13:17-18). Sometimes there are things we must do to become ready. Sometimes there is a work God must do in us to make us ready.
Patience is a virtue. "Longsuffering," a fruit of the Spirit (a characteristic of Christ's nature), is a gift he develops in us, not a gift he gives us. How is it developed? It's developed in our suffering long. Don't misunderstand. We don't "earn it" by suffering. We "learn it" through suffering. In our distress God enlarges us (matures us) (see Psa 4:1). Christ in us (which is salvation) is "the hope of glory." It's the prospect of our bringing glory to God (
2. The assignment, location, or people involved with the task aren't ready. There may be things they must do, or a work God must perform in them to make them ready.
Get ahold of these truths. Begin to pray, thanking God (Phil 4:6-7) for preparing you, others involved in this issue, and circumstances and things that will be required for your success. Trust him.
Today, as I write this, I'm enjoying a season of blessing. But it wasn't that long ago that Alice and I wondered if we had offended God. It seemed we had waited so long and had so little to show for it. Sure, our needs were met, but that was it. We knew ways to "make things happen," but God wouldn't let us. Behind the scenes he was busy at work on us and our circumstances setting the stage for our "next performance."
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