Psalms 37:3-7
We have heard more than once that patience is a virtue. Patience is something that we
all long for and look forward to attaining, but I do not want to learn patience, ever. In our
society of instantaneous gratification, data at our fingertips, and learning new skills
rapidly it is tough to be patient.
I remember trying to download a research document in college, I dialed up my internet
and found the article I needed and, rather than get a preview, I was informed that the 10
page article would take 53 years, 11 days, 3 hours and 14 minutes approximately. 26
years later, I can say that the article was necessary, but I was able to use the card
catalog to find it in the library quicker. Today I downloaded a 53 page document and
discovered that it needed editing, emailed the author and got a fixed copy in under 10
minutes.
In our lives we struggle with patience, anytime a song buffers on our phone we wonder
where the signal went, but 30 years ago we were glad our discman and 3 second anti-
skip. I am struggling with patience this week and I need to turn my impatience over to
God more than ever before. I need to know that His sovereign plan is sufficient for my
life and He has it under control.
The verse running through my head this weekend has been, “Those that wait upon the
LORD will renew their strength” Isaiah 40:31a. My ability to wait right now is like that of
a 3-year-old with a melting ice cream cone in their hand being told to wait. I want
resolution, movement, action, to reach my goal, and to cease striving. In my perusal of
scripture this week in thinking about my impatience, I stumbled upon a Psalm that
spoke to me. While David was speaking of waiting for God to act against evil doers, my
struggle with impatience was corrected.
Psalm 37:3-7 states:
3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in
his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
My heart longs to be settled in God’s best, yet there are so many things that make us
question if God is working. Trust me, God is working in His timing. He is the one that
acts at the right time to accomplish His best for us. He aligns our hearts with His as we
wait on Him to do great things. In my impatience I need to be reminded of God’s
sovereignty, He is at work.
My prayer has been for God to build my trust in Him and His plan, both in my life, your
life and the life of the church. Let us find delight in the Lord when He works all things
out in His timing, for His glory and our benefit.