waiting well

"'I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.' And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Hebrews 6:14-15

Wait: stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens, remain in readiness for some purpose

 Patient: able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious, from the Latin word pati: to suffer

My Abba,

This verse intrigues me. From my limited vantage point, it doesn't seem like Abraham accepted delays without becoming annoyed or anxious. While he waited on you to supernaturally provide his first descendant, there was the whole "rush to conceive" thing with Hagar.

Maybe, Abraham mistook your timing as a divine need for some human intervention. That’s convicting.

Thank you for your patience with my impatience. How appropriate that the root of the word patience is "sati," meaning to suffer. For me, waiting patiently can be painful.

I have been thinking this morning about the world in which I live. It is a culture of fast food, high-speed Internet, instant gratification, express service, and overnight delivery. I am trained to believe the majority of things I want can be had almost immediately.

I forget my culture can create a ravenous appetite for getting what we want NOW served on a silver platter without much, if any, sacrifice.

Just push a button. Make a call. Click a mouse. Get an App.

But then my culture collides with my personal reality. Unless you intervene, there is no overnight delivery from a neurodegenerative disease.  Each day my wait seems to get more arduous and painful. While I look forward to the day you bring me home and gift me with a new body, I desperately need you to hold me up now. I am keenly aware I cannot wait here without you.

I want to appreciate waiting with you. Please make me more aware of your presence as I struggle with the ache of the wait. When I enjoy your presence, I am able to be content with you, despite the throbbing realities of the present.

Please give me your contagious joy as we wait together.

I love you,

Mollie

My child,

Remember, I am not time bound. I don't feel the wait like you do. But I can soothe your soul in your ache of waiting. Don't watch the clock. Focus on my beauty, grace, truth and love. You don't have to wait alone.

Patience is a supernatural fruit of my Spirit. Don't try to lasso it in your own strength. You will find that elusive.

Walk in my Spirit, looking to me for patience. Then you will be ready for my purposes. If you tie yourself into an anxious knot, you may be distracted and miss our next adventure together.

You know how time flies in the presence of people who delight you. I am perfectly delightful. I can captivate you in a way that will silence the clock.

No matter where you are. No matter for what you are waiting (even your new body). No matter how long you wait. I will not abandon you to the struggle. I want you to wait well with me. Let's enjoy the journey together, not just the destination.

I love you,

Abba

photo: soloway