Patience

We live in such a fast-paced world and our lives demand that we get things done quickly.  We have 1 minute rice, On Demand TV, Gogurt, drive through Starbucks, instant oatmeal, 24 hour customer service and vending machine shoes.  With all of these time-savers you think we would all have more time, but we have less.  But what we have even less of is patience.

Patience is a long lost virtue; just consider the last time it took you longer than 25 seconds to download something.  This impatience has created an attitude of instant gratification that has influence all other expectations.  In our spiritual walk we apply these same expectations to God and when He doesn’t answer in our time frame we get frustrated.  When we are not instantly gratified we are so quick to question if God cares or if He even exists.  As a result we take matters into our own hands and we deny God’s leadership.  Impatience is a weakness that suffocates faith.  Faith is likened to a mustard seed that needs to grow and impatience stunts that essential growth.

Let’s look at the story of Lazarus.  After being told that Lazarus was severely ill and being asked to come immediately to help him, Jesus says “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” and stays where He was two days longer.  After the third day passes Lazarus dies.  It is at this time that Jesus decides to finally go to Mary and Martha.  When Jesus comes to Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.  It is important to note that Bethany (where Lazarus was buried) was a mere two miles away from Jerusalem where Jesus was staying.  When Martha greets Him, she says accusingly “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”, let’s pause.  How many times have we asked Jesus similar questions?  “Lord if you had only done ________ at this time in this way it would have all been ok”.  BUT, Jesus does not operate on our schedule, He lives outside of time.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25 – 26 (NASB)

Every time our patience is tried it is often a test where Jesus asks us in moments of doubt “Do you believe?”  If we answer that question by taking things into our own hands we are replying “NO”.  But if we wait on the Lord, our strength is renewed, our faith reinforced and just as Lazarus was resurrected, blessing is assured.  This does not mean we will never be impatient, but in those moments we must remember:

1)      Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus and He loves us, but like them we are not exempt from hardships.

2)      If God can conquer death, than nothing is impossible for Him.

3)      The trials we face are not about us, but all about God.

The resurrection of Lazarus was necessary in order for Jesus to bring glory to God.  Jesus did not delay His arrival out of neglect; it was to eliminate all arguments that could undermine this miracle.  God is very meticulous in how He responds to our needs.  We don’t understand how He works.  God is never dormant; He is always actively working on our behalf.  We just have to be patient and know that His is always the right time.

To being wise,

Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa