Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14

I’ll admit it. I’m addicted to instant gratification. I like fast food, short lines, and one-day Amazon delivery. I have a hard and fast rule–if the hold music goes through its little song and starts to repeat–I hang up.

Waiting is not my thing. Reference.com tells me that Americans spend 27 billion hours waiting in line every year. That can’t be right, can it?

What a waste. At least for me. Other people don’t seem as bothered, willing to take their “own sweet time” getting things done. Something about “living in the moment”, and this silly idea called “patience”. Grrr.

Okay, maybe I’m the one with the bad attitude about waiting. I live as if I only want to participate in the highlights of my life–and edit out the stagnant stretches. I convince myself that waiting time is wasted time.

I do this with prayer, too. When I ask God for a sign, I expect the next song on the radio to carry a special message, just for me. When I beg God for help, or protection, or direction, I assume I’ll go to sleep that night with all my questions answered.

Even with God, I’m impatient and want an answer NOW. That’s probably not a healthy way to live.

Here’s what I’m going to do. The next time I find myself waiting on God, I’m going to open my Bible app and read Psalm 27. This is a psalm of great confidence. God will do great things…just you wait.

It actually ends with the same phrase, written twice: “Wait for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart have courage. Wait for the Lord.”

Waiting takes strength and courage. It takes courage to live every moment as if it counts. It takes strength to maintain one’s faith, even in the in-between times.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time for everything under the sun. I guess that includes waiting. I’ll remember that the next time I’m at the DMV.

At least for the first hour.

Have a great week,

Mitch