Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8 (NLT)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness… 2 Pet. 3:9 (NIV)
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isa. 30:18 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, the theme of impatience and “waiting” confront me in every context of life. Why am I in such a hurry? Why the rush? At just the right time, you sent Jesus into the world. Not a day too early, and not a day too late. The same will be true of his return.
But as for me, cars in front of me cannot move fast enough; FedEx, UPS, and mail can’t get to my house quick enough; restaurants can’t bring food to my table soon enough, and Wi-Fi cannot be speedy enough.
Worse, is how my impatience plays out in relationships—even with people I love very much. I start finishing their sentences; I fidget instead of linger; I draw quick conclusions rather than seeking more information. Instead of a non-anxious presence, I often give the impression I’m in a hurry to move on to the next thing. This isn’t okay.
Father, I make no excuses. I repent. Have mercy on my busy, cluttered, in too-much-of-a-hurry self. According to you, the only thing that counts is “faith expressing itself in love” (Gal. 5:6), not impatience expressing itself in irritability.
Father, thank you for not being in a hurry; thank you for “waiting to be gracious” to us; thank you for not being slow about your promises. Thank you for being patient with my impatience. I lament my busyness and repent of my hurriedness. Help me recalibrate that I might love at the pace of grace—even this very Monday. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.
