When God waits

When God waits until what seems to be the last possible moment to sweep in and save the day….

Hold on right there, sister. 

God isn’t waiting.  He is eternal and He exists outside of time—time holds no meaning for Him, so technically He is not waiting at all.

He is existing.

He is orchestrating.

He is blessing His creation.

He is sovereignly ruling.

He is delighting in our worship.

He is doing many, many, many unfathomable things.

But, but, but…

…He is not waiting.

We could have an amazingly complex discussion about this beautiful, barely comprehensible truth—just like the ones I once enjoyed in my Bible college theology classes, and then we would be here all day and into the night marveling over Our Great God. 

So let’s just leave it at this for now: 

God does not "wait" to come to our aid, but He does understand our reliance on the concept of time and that, to us, it often appears His intricately orchestrated plans seem to come to pass just as we’re about to give up hope that there even is a plan for our little lives.

But remember this:

These plans of God span all of eternity—and we make our appearance on the stage at our appointed time and for our ordained purpose.  We’re woven into the tapestraic threads that join our roles in redemption with those of the saints and sinners of old and of those yet to come.

During this period when God seems slow to appear on our scene, do we find our place in our waiting?

Perhaps we are being prepared for the next step…or for a leap that is still 10 or 20 or 173 steps away.

Perhaps this is a time to learn faith or faithfulness,

     trust or trustworthiness,

          grace or graciousness.

Perhaps we are called to exhibit burning obedience despite the present dimness of the revelation.

Perhaps we are simply asked to rest—stop striving and fear not, little lamb—and be content in this moment.

Perhaps it is a combination of these or not any of these at all.  Perhaps the underlying purpose may change as we continue to press on toward the goal and seek first His Kingdom.

We are all at different waystations on our journeys toward Christlikeness, and we’re all yet looking forward to the full realization of the Kingdom of God.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps….

Ultimately, we know that this season of waiting,

     of watching,

          of hoping,

               of longing

      is for our good

                    and for His glory.