How we wait…how we run

A facebook friend posted a popular meme this morning.  By popular, I mean it’s one that has spoken to me before on numerous occasions.  It says:  “Joseph waited 13 years, Abraham waited 25 years, Moses waited 40 years, Jesus waited 30 years.  If God is making you wait, you’re in good company.”

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!  Psalm 37:7

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  Psalm 40:1

And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.  Hebrews 6:15

We are instructed to wait patiently for the Lord. The waiting is inevitable, no getting out of it. We live in an age of instant gratification…everything is fast.  Food, turnaround times, computers…we know what we want, and we want it now. 

I did a quick word search on “with patience” and “patiently”.

Can I say right now…?  Wow!

We are called to patiently…

…wait (Psalm 37:7, Romans 8:25, )

…endure sufferings (1 Cor 1:5-7)

…endure  evil

…bear fruit (Luke 8:15)

…bear with one another in love (Eph. 4:2)

…reprove, rebuke, and exhort (2 Tim. 4:2)

…run the race (Hebrews 12:1)

 God’s ways are not our ways…they are higher, more wise, and better than our ways.  If we are being conformed to His image, we are beginning to look more like Him.  He is patient…one day is as a thousand…

We have instruction, and incentive.  We are given examples of saints who successfully did so…the way we do it is up to us.  Will we walk in obedience and develop patience in our waiting, endurance, forbearance, and running?