Patient Trust

"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day." The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9)

The story goes that an economist once read these words and got very excited.

"Lord - is it true that a thousand years for us is just like a minute to you?"
"Yes."
"Then a million dollars to use must just be a penny to you."
"Yes."
"Lord, would you give me one of those pennies?"
"All right. Wait here a minute."

Too often we want God's resources, but we do not want His timing. We want the penny, but not the minute. We forget that His work in us while we wait is as important as what it is we think we are waiting for. Waiting means that we give God the benefit of the doubt that He knows what He is doing.

It must be patient trust - trust that is willing to wait again and again day after day.

- John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat

Are we too impatient for our prayers to be answered? Do we feel that God is unable to answer our prayers just because they seem unanswered for a while? Sometimes, we forget that His work in us while we wait is as important as what it is we think we are waiting for. God has His reason and His timing for everything that He makes us go through. We just have to wait on Him in patient trust.