So I was at Jubilee on Sunday and heard Pastor Dave use the phrase "God isn't a microwave, He's more like a slow cooker kind of God." When I heard this I just thought, "ugh, this is so unfair. Why God, why?" Isn't waiting seriously the hardest thing ever! But the more I thought about it I realized this is pretty true and since I can't change the way God is then I need to understand why this is ..
There are many scriptures about "waiting" in the Bible.
Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Micah 7:7 "Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."
Lamentations 3:5 "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."
Psalm 40:1 " I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry."
In Genesis God took six days to create the earth and everything in it. God made Adam name all the animals before he gave him Eve. I'm sure that was a long time of waiting.
The Messiah didn't come until the New Testament. The disciples had to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. We are still waiting for the return of Christ and also to be with Him in Heaven.
This shows me that maybe waiting is worthwhile.
When I think back on all the amazing things that have happened in my life many of them I had to wait for.
Birthdays and Christmas every year when I was a kid. Seemed like forever.
Graduating high school... took four years ..so glad to not be in high school anymore.
Going to a Christian college....felt like it took forever to get there.
Graduating college
Finding Teddy ... took a long time
Marrying Teddy.. also pretty restless
As I think about these things though, maybe there is more value in them since I had to wait so long. What would it be like if we just asked God to do something for us and God just did it. It seems like it would be amazing!! But would we really be thankful for it? If everything came so easily would there be any gratitude in our hearts for God?
One time I heard a story about Adam and how he was incomplete before the fall on man. I think Donald Miller was talking about this. Scripture says that Adam was lonely and needed a companion. This was a man who did not have any sin and walked with God everyday, yet he still had to "wait" just like us. God knew he longed for a mate but he didn't instantly give Him one. Why? Probably because he would take her for granted and not be thankful for her. So God let him name every animal on earth. This probably kept him busy but didn't take the longing in his heart away. Finally God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and from his rib forms Eve. How did Adam react to this woman? Did he say , " Oh, thanks God, this is cool." No ..He was amazed and said "This is now bone of MY bones and flesh of MY flesh." I've also heard a joke once that the name woman came from Adam saying "Woah! Man!" But I don't think that is scripturally accurate. Still I'm sure he was very thankful and amazed at what God did.
Another thing I've thought about is how we are never bitter at God after we are given something great. We might be in the period of waiting but not after it. In our minds we think "it was sooo worth waiting for and I hope I never have to wait for something that long again." But we don't regret waiting. I've never regretted waiting. I feel I've learned alot of hard lessons through waiting but when it finally happens; when the waiting is over, I just think, "Wow! God really is a good God and heard my prayer!" This is amazing! I am totally humbled by His gifts.
All that to say God has put me in a period of waiting and it's not always easy but I am beginning to see that yes He is a good God and He's not evil for making me wait. It's gonna be worth it!=)
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