Impatience

My wife would not call me a patient person. I can’t stand to drive behind people driving too slowly. I also don’t like to stand in line and wait. I can give many more examples. Over the years the Lord has been teaching me patience. I don’t always see His plan unfolding when I’m in the middle of it. I’m learning to be patient as He moves and shapes things around me.

The Israelites had gotten right up to the land they were to inherit and because of the fear delivered by the 10 bad spies, they turned the entire nation around and started going a different route. The Lord had been frustrated with His people, but He was still providing for them. Their patience was short though. Check this out…

4 They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[c] to go round Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’

6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, ‘We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.

8 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’ 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. (Numbers 21:4-9 NIV)

Jesus referenced this event several years later when He said, 14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3:14-15 NIV)

When I get impatient with the Lord, it’s on me. I must learn to trust His timing, His plan and certainly His power. I don’t always understand why certain things happen, but I understand Who He is. He is guiding my steps to get me home.

I heard a song the other day while attending the funeral of a sweet little 4 year old boy named Jake. The song was chosen by his parents and it moved my heart. The song is “Believe” recorded by Brooks and Dunn. The WORDS WRITTEN IN RED tells me that there’s more to life than just what I can see. I’m determined to be patient as His plan unfolds.

Pressing On!

Dwayne