Exodus chapter 32
Have you ever prayed this prayer: Lord, give me patience, and I give it RIGHT NOW! :-)
I know I have prayed that prayer, many times. We are fast-paced "I need it right now" people. In our world, patience is in short supply, speed is a commodity, and instant gratification is supreme. But, where does this leave us. We are working longer, faster, and devoting more and more of ourselves to the challenge of keeping pace. Once upon a time, we tried to keep up with the Jones', now we are trying to keep pace with everyone. The typical rituals that used to hold a family together, like dinner routines, have been sacrificed on the altar of speed and competitiveness. Things like prayer, and worship are given up in an attempt to gain an hour or two of Sunday morning for necessary chores or just the proverbial "me" time. More and more we are emotionally and physically exhausted, and spiritually bankrupt. We eat fast food; multi-task our friendships friendships with the internet; speed-date; save nothing and buy on credit; consume energy drinks to keep awake. Where does this stop? How do we get off the treadmill? We are moving so fast that we are ill. Speed kills, and we have the disease.
Fortunately, though, there is a vaccine for this disease. It is patience. It seems that there has never been a time when patience was more necessary. Imagine how much better you would feel with just a small dose of this medicine. Imagine being able to sleep better, being able to catch your breath, being able to wait for the right timing with people, being able to save money. What a difference just a small amount of patience can make.
The Israelites lost patience with Moses. He was on the mountain with God, while the words of the covenant were being grafted upon stone. Moses came down with the tablets, but found that the people had lost patience and had already crafted a God of their own making, a golden calf. The resulting consequence of their actions? The covenant between them and God is broken, and they are inflicted with a disease. Sound familiar?
But, God does not desire for any of us to suffer. With faith, God promises that eternity is ours. We may die in this world, but we will rise again in the next. We are promised more time than any of us can count. With this gift of a surplus of time, maybe we don't have to be so desperate for speed. We can be patient with others, with our world, and with ourselves.
Because of Jesus, God is patient with us. He desires that all of us would pursue His will. But, we don't. Nevertheless, he waits. He waits for us to draw near to Him. He waits for us to learn from our mistakes. He waits for us grow in faith. We are impatient with God, but God remains eternally patient with us.
Today, try to be a little more patient, and maybe realize how much better you feel at the end of the day.
Lord God, I am impatient. Forgive me for allowing my own haste to make such a waste of so much of my life. Thank you for your promise of eternity. Help me to remember that I don't have to be in a hurry with everything. I don't have to be so urgent. Encourage me to be as patient with you and others as you are with me. In Jesus' name. Amen
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