It’s confession time – I hate to wait!

I want what I want, and I want it now! Waiting makes me angry, frustrated, and, at times, even offended.

Take traffic, for instance. Traffic feels like a very personal assault against me. Don’t all those other drivers understand how important my schedule is? How dare all these other cars slow me down when I have such important things to do? Can you relate?

Maybe for you, it’s being put on hold during a phone call. Or maybe your child is still stuck on the waiting list for that magnet school she has to attend. Maybe it’s a painfully slow line at your morning coffee shop.

In our fast-paced culture, waiting means losing control. Think about it. People used to farm their own food; planting a field and waiting for the crop took months. Today, we run to the nearest drive-through. Remember pen pals? People used to write letters (by hand) and then wait several days for them to be received. Today we send a text message. What about the news? Everything is available instantly, from newspapers to world headlines, at the push of a button.

So, why is waiting so hard?

Waiting is a real reminder that the world does not revolve around me. Waiting messes with my plans. Waiting forces me to see and hear things that I’d rather ignore. Simply, waiting reveals that I am not in control. God, however, tells us that waiting is important.

In fact, the Bible shows us that waiting is necessary and needed in our lives.

• God uses waiting to get our attention.
• Waiting reminds us that God is in control when we are not.
• Waiting reveals God’s plans, not ours.
• Waiting allows God to speak into our lives in ways we could never hear before.
• Waiting shifts our perspective to see and experience more of God’s love and grace in our lives.

Do you hate the wait? Step back and give God your frustrations.

Be honest. From the small annoyances to the heavy burdens, ask God to help you trade the hate in the wait for hope in the promises of God’s love and grace.

Adapted from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church