I have to take caution when I am in a season of waiting.
Not necessarily because I am scared of going down the wrong path or making the wrong move, more because I am scared I will acquire a new behavior amid my impatience.
Impatience is an ugly trait. It’s whiny and high-pitched. It can also be mean, and overlook the others surrounding you. Impatience is cruel, not loving, and overall prideful. It acts in its own interest and doesn’t aspire growth, only immediate gratification. So when I become impatient, these are the behaviors that seep out from my core.
It’s like I completely forgot that the scenery is not what fits within the four walls of a frame. It’s where I allow my eyes to seek, and patiently anticipate my view to change.
Growing up, my immediate family lived away from extended family. So me and my two sisters and brother acclimated to fighting over the mini van bucket seats for our 12-hour (or longer!) road trips. Around the same time, the movie “Are We There Yet?” came out and because it was a common phrase in our family on long drives, my parents would jokingly shout it here-and-there to remind us how unreasonable of a question it really was.
If you think about it, why were we asking if we were there yet, if the car was still moving? Isn’t that a sure sign that we have not, in fact, arrived at our final destination?
A lot of times we ask God the “Are we there yet?” question. And like a family on a road trip, it is an annoying, whiny question that is piercing to the ears every time you hear it.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.”
Psalm 22:1-5 ESV
I used to think that seasons of waiting come and go. And I guess, depending on your perspective, they do. But for an impatient Jesus follower, we’re always churning in a endless cycle of what’s next.
As impatient Jesus followers, we are in constant groaning. We either forget or neglect that He is God and that He is in control. As impatient Jesus followers, we cry and cry and forget that He is moving and working even when it doesn’t seem like it. But as a faithful Jesus follower, we just linger on the fact that He is Holy. Oh, how we can rest in those 3 words alone!
He is Holy – and so there is no reason to fret or doubt. For when we cry, He rescues us from the pit. When we pray, He responds. There is no moment that goes by where God is not active and because of that there is no standing moment where fear is justified.
Impatience is an ugly trait because it is not in the image of God. It’s not something He created us to bear, and He thwarts the plans of the impatient and righteously pursues His Good and Pleasing and Perfect Will.
Now, if you’re sitting here thinking you don’t struggle with impatience, here are some synonyms…
- Restlessness
- Frustration
- Agitation
- Nervousness
- Hunger
- Greed
- Longing
- Intolerance
- Exasperation
- Annoyance
- Discontent
- Dissatisfaction
- Aggravation
Do any of these resonate with you?
Are you restlessly waiting, or are you running to Him? We can be still and keep moving if you trust Him.
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