Do you know what the longest 15 minutes of my life is? It’s standing in row 30 on an airplane while waiting for everyone in front of me to exit the aircraft. Longest 15 minutes of my life! One at a time people unbuckle their seatbelts… then climb slowly to their feet gathering their phone, their book, their water bottle, their half-eaten snacks, their headphones… and then they have to remember just where they stored their carryon in the overhead bin and pull it out. “Ok! You are actually putting on your coat now even though we are heading directly into the heated terminal… it’s good. It’s aaalllll good…” Oh, on the outside I might be wearing a pleasant smile as I stand and wait my turn, but in my head I am screaming… “Move! For the love of all Humanity…. MOVE!”
My son-in-law traded me his seat on one of our New Mexico flights because he kindly thought it would give me more legroom over my assigned seat in row 25, but in actuality, he gave me the best gift of my life because I was in row 1! Let me tell you, that aircraft door opened in Cleveland and I hit that exit like a thoroughbred bursting from the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby! First one off, Baby! I actually had to check myself from yawping a barbaric “FREEDOM” from Braveheart! (I’ve heard TSA frowns on excessive vocal displays.) First one down the jetway… first one at baggage claim… where I then waited for our bags to come out on the conveyor belt. Do you know what happened? The dude in seat 30 arrived just as the carousel began to move. SMH.
Waiting… patience… I’m just NOT good at it. I’m the guy on a long road trip that loathes stopping at a rest area because then all the vehicles I have passed in the last 10 minutes will get back in front of me. I know some of you feel me on this… who is willing to admit it?
Sitting at a stop light… standing in a checkout line… waiting for my wife to get her Starbuck’s coffee… waiting… waiting… waiting… patience… patience… patience… I have actually pondered this week… will there be no waiting in Heaven… or will I just not care about waiting in Heaven. Either will work for me. But in the here and now… In the words of Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride — “I hate waiting.” (You have to imagine that with a Spanish accent.)
So, just perhaps, you can imagine how I struggle with the following Bible verses. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps. 27:14 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Ps. 33:20 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him… Ps. 37:7 Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. Ps. 38:15 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning… Ps. 130:5-6
We all have our faith struggles… have you figured out one of mine yet? Perhaps most difficult of all? When God asks us to wait. We have a need and we bring it to Him, and He makes us wait. I know all of the theological talking points. The Lord’s timing is perfect. Waiting on the Lord can cause us to lean into His word more often. When the Lord delays… we pray more. God is always good and his plans for us are good. But waiting on God to move is sometimes difficult.
But… I am grateful for God’s assurance that in His perfect timing — He will make all things new. Paul assures us: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 Do I trust His promise? You better believe it! Waiting though… God is still working on me. You know what might help me? Reserving row 1 on all my flights. Hey, it’s a start.
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