Waiting...

As children, we would count the number of days till Christmas. It couldn't come quick enough. I can remember rushing to bed on Christmas Eve so that Santa could come. On Christmas morning, my brother and I would wake up super early to see what gifts Santa had left. My parents would often tell us to go back to bed because it was too early. "Wait," they would say.

I didn't like waiting then, and I don't like it now. So often when we pray, God answers us with "Wait." I've been thinking about this recently and wondered why this is so. Scripture tells us that we have not because we ask not. I don't know about you, but there are times when I've been asking and the answer is either "No" or "Wait."

As a mother, I talk to lots of moms about the difficulties of raising a middle schooler. One of the most common frustrations these mom face is dealing with the attitude that their once sweet child has now developed. There are times when our children ask us for things and our answer is "No" or "Wait" simply due to their attitude. Could the same be true of us?

My grandmother always told me, "God not only knows where you are going, but he also knows how to get you there." Sometimes it takes time for God to build in us the character to handle our wants. If we truly trust him, we know that his timing is perfect.

The Israelites waited 400 years after the prophet Isaiah spoke, before the promised Messiah came into the world. Why? I wonder if it had something to do with their attitude; their incessant grumbling and complaining. Now I don't know about you, but I want to learn my lesson quick -- I don't want to wait forever for answered prayers. The important thing is that we stay close to Christ, and that we learn to trust him, even when we don't understand.

"For I know the plans I have for you..." Jeremiah assures us. God's plans are to prosper us and not to harm us. We find peace in knowing that his plans our for our good and for his glory. So, if you are in a time of waiting and it seems like God isn't listening, take heart. He hears you and he will answer in his perfect timing.