Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Many of us are familiar with the phrase, "Hurry Up And Wait" and when we hear this said it does not usually set well with us on an emotional level! We live in a world of instant gratification. If we want to contact someone we send out a text, email or Facebook message expecting a quick response. When that doesn't happen we resend another one just to be sure they got it! I am guilty of doing this!
In Acts 1:4-11 we read these words, "While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 'This' he said, 'is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' So when they (the disciples) had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?' He replied, 'It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
When I read this recently I began thinking how the disciples might have felt when Jesus told them to wait to receive the promise of the Father! I mean, really, here they had given up their lives to follow Jesus for 3 years, watched Him die on a cross, and realizing that what they had thought was going to happen didn't happen in the way they expected! And now Jesus was telling them to wait!! Wait for the promise of God! I don't know about you but I might have been thinking that this is crazy! Why do I have to wait to receive the promise of God!
After I decided to follow the call of God to become a Local Pastor I was required to go to two weeks to complete the License to Preach class. I had observed that once the class was completed the usual progression was to be appointed to a church right after. I was excited and couldn't wait!! God had a different plan, It was three years of having to wait before I was appointed to my first church. During those three years I became impatient, frustrated and almost gave up the idea of becoming a pastor. Just when I thought it was never going to happen, God opened the door! My first church appointment was such a blessing as all of the churches I have served! Good things come to those who wait on the Lord! He knows our future and the plans He has for us! In the waiting times He asks us to be faithful and believe that He is in control and has greater things in store than we can ever imagine!
I have been through trials in my life, things that have broken my heart, but in the waiting and relying on Him, being patient and faithful, He has shown me that through the waiting He is always with us
and that He has "Good Things for Those Who Wait" on Him.
My prayer is that you praise Him in the waiting time, trusting and believing that He has got a greater much more beautiful plan for your life than you can even begin to imagine!
Wait and be thankful!!
Blessings to you all today and forever!