“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 (KJV)
At first, Gerald didn’t take pleasure in doing God’s will. He wasn’t even aware of the divine will until one day, in a doctor’s office, he tried to find something to occupy his time. Like Samuel in the Bible, he didn’t even know God had a voice. The quiet, peaceful tones suddenly began to bounce around his eardrums. “You could pray for these people.” Gerald looked at the older gentleman sitting across from him, thinking he had spoken. His eyes were closed as in peaceful sleep. Gerald looked around the room, but none of the others had spoken to him either. A chill flooded over him. The Pastor had spoken last Sunday about God talking to you. But Gerald had never heard God talk to him before. “That’s right, Gerald, it’s me. You can pray for these people while you wait.”
Consider that God allows frustrations, delays, obstacles, etc to teach us that no time is wasted and every moment is private and precious. They are not for complaints and fantasy. These encounters between us and God can be marvelous experiences. They are usually rather quiet in contrast to the spectacular experiences some claim. The Psalmist thought about the will of God for his life and considered it to be the greatest pleasure in life to obey God.
None of us take pleasure in lines and waiting. The point, however, is not patience but how we respond in the waiting event. Everyone has a plan and wants to tell us how to respond in a given situation. Aren’t you tired of other people’s agendas? May I suggest something that will make the waiting experience both unique and beneficial for you? At the time you are confronted with waiting, simply ask God how he would have you spend this time. Then obey. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many ways God’s will becomes evident to you. Soon, you’ll be joyfully looking for ‘waiting’ experiences in order to do God’s will.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Forgive us our frustrations and raging over ‘lost or wasted time.’ Help us to remember that time is neither wasted nor lost when we obey your will. Enable us to hear your voice and empower us to obey your will. Your will for our lives is precious to us. Thank you for calling us out darkness into the marvelous light of Calvary. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN
Let us praise God for calling us to be his disciples and live to obey his will,