I am horribly impatient. This is likely the biggest challenge I have before me as I set out to write a book. I used to write poetry and songs a lot. Not because I was overly interested in that form of writing, but because it provided me with instant (or nearly instant) gratification. Songs and poems are bite-sized. You can knock one out in the afternoon and feel like you accomplished something special. But a book…whoa, a book. That takes, I don’t know, months…years even.

This hurry up to hurry up mentality I have makes a nice and easy transition over into my faith walk. I always want God to be acting in my life, answering prayers, moving mountains. I want to be pursuing Him, pushing through obstacles. Doing stuff. 

I was reading in Proverbs the other night, and God reminded me that patience is not only a great Guns-N-Roses tune (whistle anyone?), it truly is a virtue as well. In Proverbs 20:3 it says “It is honorable for a man to stop striving…” Later in verse 22, it says, “Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”  Just a few pages back in Psalms (37:7), it says “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him….

There are probably many reasons why God would have it this way. I’ve come up with some major themes of my own.

#1 God may have different timing. I’ve blogged about this one before.

#2 Waiting, being patient, standing still is an act of obedience, of trust, of faith.   Psalms 37:8 – Do not fret, it only causes harm. Don’t know about you, but I fret a lot. I expend a ton of energy because I am not disciplined. I flail around in the deep waters because I don’t trust that my Lord will help me float.

#3 It helps us be more effective and successful. It allows us to stabilize and to firmly establish our balance. To be prepared. Proverbs 20:25 – It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy and afterward to reconsider his vows. When we act on impulse and move too quickly, we rarely sustain momentum. In most things you do, pressing pause and being still for an extra moment dramatically reduces the likelihood that you will make a decision you end up regretting.

I’m trying to do more resting in the Lord. This doesn’t mean I won’t (or shouldn’t) intently pursue a relationship with Him. It’s just that I need to be more fully disciplined and open. Seek and listen. More engaged than active. And when I’m ready, and He’s ready, God will move.

As GNR would say…

Sometimes, I get so tense
But I can’t speed up the time
But you know, love, there’s one more thing to consider
Said sugar take it slow
Things will be just fine
You and I’ll just use a little patience