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Have you ever heard the phrase "hurry up & wait"?
So silly, so ironic, yet so true. We live in a fast food, fast paced, digital, world at your fingertips age and we often feel like waiting is not a reasonable option.
What we want, we get. When we want it, it's ours. Right? Wrong.
God works differently. He takes His time. He is patient- intricately working in each and every detail to build us, to shape our faith and our character. Yet we would opt out of the character building if we could. We want the final product, without the messy in between parts. We look on towards the destination and past the journey. Yet the journey is deeply connected to the heart of God. He uses it to get our attention, to shake us out of our complacency, our independence, our fears.
In John 11 we see a beautiful example of the faithfulness of God to show up. Mary and Martha sent word for Jesus to come because their brother Lazarus had become gravely ill. Although Jesus dearly loved this family, when he got word, he waited for two days. HE WAITED! But Lazarus was dying, why would he wait!? Why Jesus, why?!
“When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.”
He is not playing games, He is not busy with other things. He has intricate purposes over your life, He has timing. He wants to form your faith.
“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone... Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Those deep desires, those promises from God, He hasn’t forgotten, He is not withholding them for sport. He is faithful. The enemy will often try to snatch up our seasons of waiting, injecting the poison of doubt into our deepest insecurities. So we rush, we strive, we flail around trying to make things happen. We hurry up & wait. Yet, being in a hurry doesn’t bring the fulfillment of God’s promises any faster, it just brings heartache.
I understand the feeling. Those dreams that are dead and collecting dust, I've got em. Lord, why didn't you show up already? Why are you waiting so long? But He does show up. He will show up. And when all feels dead and buried, he breathes life and revives that thing. Don't lose out on your waiting season, rest in His promises.
& whatever it is you are waiting for, let go. Let go of your idea of timing and your expectations. Instead, cling to who God is, develop expectancy and know that He who molded the very universe, is molding you in His image. He has a great desire for relationship with you and these times of waiting are meant to deepen that.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Words + photos by Tiffany Lambert. Tiffany works with YWAM San Diego/Baja in the areas of Discipleship & Communications.
Hurry Up & Wait