FAY ROWE

Why do we hate to wait?

We rush to grow up, get married, make money, buy a house, spend money, change locations, make decisions.

For those of us chronically in a hurry, waiting can be an extremely dangerous occupation. While we’re waiting for something to happen, whether that something is good or bad, we feel so much pressure to act that the resulting stress seems unbearable. We may not know exactly what to do, but we think we should do something. We think anything would be better than waiting.

And therein lies the danger. Doing something is not always better than doing nothing. Doing the wrong thing can be devastating. It can take us off the right path, or shut us down just before a breakthrough. Sometimes the only “doing” required is waiting, whether it is for nature to take it’s course, waiting for God to work, or waiting to hear what our next move should be.

Some of the best things in life can’t happen without the passing of time. Perhaps that’s why we’re told to let “patience have her perfect work.” The “work” of patience is to hold us firm until we lack nothing, until what God has spoken is fulfilled.

Time and waiting are often our friends. Patience always is.

“In your patience possess ye your souls,” (Luke 21:9).