Waiting

Reading: Numbers 9-12

Waiting is difficult in this Fast Paced world today. Think about it…we have drive thru’s for food, dry cleaning, medications, and just about anything else you can think of. NOW, NOW, NOW!!! Everything is timed and well orchestrated so that we can finish and get to where we need to be next. We base our opinion of a service on the timeliness in which they provide it. But it is important that we do not put God in that same mold. We know that God works things according to His time, and His time is not our time. While we take that and believe it, our foolish, impatient heart wants to proceed without his direction. 

I like to relate it to our children when we ask them to stay put and we’ll be right back. Well, we know that a child’s idea of right back and our idea of right back are not quite the same! When the child wanders, he can get lost, become frightened and scared, and he causes himself needless worry. All he had to do was be patient and wait for the return of his Mother, however, his impatient heart was unwilling to stay put. 

Will we allow ourselves to do the same thing to our Heavenly Father? Has He asked you to momentarily stay put? If so, make your wait pleasant. Impatience will not help your answer come any sooner. It may be in this time of waiting that God wants you to strengthen your ability to trust. Could it be that is the sole purpose for your waiting?  

Just for today: Everyone is waiting for something, even if it is something small. Today, reflect on what you can learn from your waiting.

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

We find great obedience at this time by the Israelites (9:17-23). When the cloud moved, they moved, and when the cloud stayed, they stayed. They knew the cloud was for their protection and guidance, and they willingly stayed in the safety of its boundaries.