"Teach us O LORD, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work." —Peter Marshall, Scottish Clergyman
To WAIT is to stay where one is or delay action until a particular time, or until something else happens; or until a later time before dealing with it. With those definitions in mind, how hard is it for YOU to wait? Our culture calls us to "Hurry up!" "Seize the day!" and "Take the bull by the horns." Less frequently we are told to "Take your time," "Hold on," or "Look before you leap." Many are trying to get 'there' (wherever there is) before neighbors, enemies, and friends. We've been told there is no time to lose and no time to wait. Certainly there are moments when we experience the urgency of now—and must take action or suffer dire consequences or missed opportunities. There are other times when wisdom is crying out to us to wait and see. This can be difficult in our ready, fire, aim society, but most of us can think of times when we wished we'd just waited.
Waiting is sometimes harder than working to fix, to control, to address what's going on. I'm still learning that more often than not, situations have a way of settling themselves, without my intervention. At times I've jumped the gun responding emotionally and regretted it later. Too often the urge to fight or answer something that is God's to handle intrudes. Spanish philosopher Baltasar Gracian said, "Let the first impulse pass. Wait for the second." This advice works for both actions and words. I like the acronym W.A.I.T. which stands for "Why Am I Talking?" James wrote, "Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way." (James 3:2, NIV) The Apostle instructed us to wait before responding, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." (James 1:19b-20, NIV) This is especially true right now.
In this tumultuous time...we pray, trust, and wait on the Lord. We don't really know what's going on, nor what God's response will be. We often can't discern who is a true minister of the Gospel representing Christ's Kingdom, and who is not. This was also true in Paul's day. He counseled the Corinthians,"So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God." (1 Cor. 4:5, AMP) I'm glad about this.
King David began Psalm 27 with this beautiful declaration of assurance, "1The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?2When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident..." He ended the psalm with a petition to the LORD and encouragement for himself and for us, "11Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.13I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" | 
