Jesus dearly loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. However, after receiving the this news [that Lazarus was ill], he waited two more days where he was.
Waiting is the foundation of the spiritual life.--Simone Weil.
I must say to someone almost everyday (including myself)--there is a lot of waiting in life. It seems to be the universal experience--to wait on God. If it is for discernment, a job to show, a child to be conceived, an illness to be relieved, a future spouse to arrive, a decision to be made, a financial issue to be resolved, a hurt to heal, a relationship to be reconciled...there is a lot of waiting in life.
Learning to wait well is significant to the spiritual journey. In the realm of God, it's a lifeskill to be developed. Waiting in a posture of passionate patience (how Eugene Peterson sometimes translates perseverance) is a way to living released, hands open, fists unclenched, trusting God.
I don't know what you are waiting for today and if God seems to be slow in your life.
When we are in the practice of waiting (meaning not "practice to be perfect", but "practice as a lawyer practices law"), we learn the soul-skills of letting go, not needing to control, and trusting that no matter what happens, the love of God remains steady in our lives.
Name today what you are waiting on.
Then add yourself to the list: Jesus dearly loved, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Sarah and _________. However, he waited two more days...
We are in good company as we wait.
1 comment:
Sometimes I think the Bible left out one more name for God: The Great Procrastinator. I think the eleventh hour belongs to God.
I'm waiting for a job. I'm not too impatient about it, yet, but come the end of April I might be getting a little antsy.
Post a Comment