"Waiting"

"In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:19

Late Saturday night we discovered a water leak in our house. We called our plumber last night to see when he could come and fix it. He told us that it was a very slim possibility that he could come today and that it would probably be Thursday. Well, this morning, just as I sat down to start the devotional my phone rang. Yes, it was my plumber-- they were on their way. (Thank You, Lord!) This means I had to put the devotional on hold for a little while this morning because the leak is in my office wall that adjoins a bathroom.

As I thought about having to put it on hold, even wondering if I should send it this late or just wait until tomorrow to send it, the Lord spoke something to my heart- actually, two things.

1) A temporary delay does not mean a permanent one. Often things in our lives are "put on hold", but just because they are doesn't mean they won't happen eventually. So don't be discouraged.

2) A temporary delay is a place of waiting. But the wait is not what matters. What matters is "how" you wait. Not everything in life, even the promises of God always come immediately. Sometimes there are delays, waiting periods, and how you wait is what's important.

Perhaps you are in one of those times now. How are you waiting? Are you anxious? Are you getting frustrated? Are you losing heart? Are you getting impatient? Is your impatience effecting your attitude- as in, are you beginning to be short, rude and unkind to others? Or are you waiting in peace? Are you trusting that God has a perfect timing for everything and He is working behind the scenes to cause all things to work together for your good? Are you resting in confidence that God is perfect and in control? Waiting is a fact of life. Delays are a fact of life. What we do in them is what counts.

Have a great day. Not everything in life comes instantly, so when it doesn't, what do you do?

For further reading:
Psalm 40:1
Philippians 4:6
Romans 8:28