“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness..” ( 2 Peter 3:9)

Patience is one of the key defining aspects of our relationship with God. Indeed, if anyone aspires to come closer to God and share his nature this is an area any of us must first deal with. And, besides, there are many characters given to us in the Bible, to draw lessons from.

Moses started out as an intemperate character eager to have his ways. But God had to slow him down, before he was released for his earthly commission ( Exodus 3).

But let us not forget Abraham. Coming up in years without a child any could understand Abraham’s growing impatience with this God quite slow to act to give him a child he desired. One day he could take it no more. Induced by his wife Sarah, perhaps out of concern for his mental health, Abraham turned to his maid Hagar. “He slept with Hagar, and she conceived” ( Gen 16:4). However, this was all ahead of time and what came of this relationship birthed two nations - the Palestine’s of Ishmael and Israelites of Isaac-later ever at war!

For Christ to be born it had to take time. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” ( Gal 4:4-5). Here we must be reminded that by the time of Jesus’s birth it was close to 700 years since Isaiah had first given prophecy of his birth! Needless to say, some had already given up and taken to other Messiahs of their own choice. But, like with Abraham, usually for such the end is often not pretty, especially once you walk out of God’s chosen path.

Today, you could have a situation of a matter long in coming and you’re getting a bit sore. There could be an issue pressing you down and you just want to get done with it and moreover you apparently have all the power to take your own course. You know what- just slow down! In all such matters it would be well to remember, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” ( Isaiah 40:31).

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you are a God who takes His time to fulfill His will, I pray for the gift of patience and to learn to wait upon you, for the fulfillment of your will upon my life and in all my affairs, this I pray in Jesus’s name.