Will God Wait?

Will God wait for me?

I am very slow to change; so slow that I doubt His patience will last. I’m stuck in myself and though I try, I cannot find release. My heart deceives me, time and time again. I will not try much anymore. Does God love the weak and frail? Does God love the poor and lame? Does He love the self-deceived?

God waited for Gomer. She was finally done, worn out, hoping to die, of little worth. All of her “lovers” abandoned her for lack of use; they were in it for themselves. Then God said, “She is valuable to me, go and purchase her.” He spoke comfortably with her. Nobody wondered about her sincerity. There were no promises from her. “Sincerity” was one lover who ran away.

Elijah had had enough. He ran from Jezebel’s threat, and wanted to die. The shame of simply quitting had no place of mattering now. Nakedly displaying all manner of disregard, the hero of Mt. Carmel gave up. He was weary in the greatness of the way; the road was too hard to continue on. God loved him where he lay. A little angel food cake woke him back.

Moses ran, fed up with the call to deliver the nation; the desert was welcoming now. Forty years later a bush burned. It was time to go, fear and dismay had lost their foothold on his soul. He didn’t care that much, but an inward desire kindled. Broken and weakened, he went back. God still needed him. Needed him? Yes, it was his job, he was chosen for this one.

James says, “Let patience have her perfect work?” It makes us perfect and entire, wanting nothing. How long do we have to tolerate? — Till staying-power becomes our day-long service. Till there is no want, lust, or inordinate need left. We are care free. “Let it have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, “joy in bearing the cross.” J.F.B. Joy? Joy is cheer, delight, gladness.

Are you antsy? Gotta move? Hold your horses, friend. Hang on, hold your fire, pass the time, linger and delay. Why? — Because everything must go through death to have any life.

A hiking man fell off a cliff. He caught a branch and hung on for dear life. He yelled for help, none was there. In desperation he screamed one last time. Finally, there was an answer. “Who is it?” “It’s me, God.” “What do you want me to do?” “Let go and I’ll catch you.” “Is there anybody there?” cried the man again. Faithfully, God comes back “it’s God, let go.” The hanging man pauses and finally yells “Is there anybody else there?” This was told by Dr.Tony Evans. The hiker was unfortunately not quite at his death’s end yet.

God’s perfect work is fire-proven! The Lord was David’s shepherd and ours, “I shall not want.” “He maketh me to lie down,” (maketh me). We don’t wanna do it. “He leadeth me, (collar-wise sometimes) — “By the still waters.” “ He restoreth my soul.” Joy in staying, delight in God’s rest, cheerfully laughing in the face of danger? Are we there yet?

The paths of righteousness are next for His name sake, and then the valley of the shadow of death where His rod and staff comfort us, according to the Psalm 23. Now He sets the lunch table, while our enemies are present. They watch as our Guide dotes upon us, and neither they nor death can ever interfere. Finally, our cup runs over, and we rejoice because goodness and mercy promise to accompany us all our waking days. Lessons in waiting!

In closing, God spoke to Habakkuk, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Waiting and patience come as we wait and are patient, sound like a plan? It is God’s way.

In the next chapter he says, “O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Often what we wish for now is scheduled for a time which is yet afar off. Don’t be discouraged, it will come. Those visions and hopes are sure to come in God’s time. Maybe we will have forgotten all about them, maybe when they come, they will appear as a revival.

Finally, when the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, it was like a dream. God aims to restore the years the canker-worm has eaten, Beloved — yes, the canker-worm and Palmer-worm and all other worms too. Rest assured, God will be the only lover at the end, He alone will never abandon us. The desert may chasten us, the valley acquaint us with fear. Nevertheless the plan of God will be sure. It’s His promise. He so loves us. He will not quit till His joy is our strength.   Love ya