This is part 5 of a 10-part series. View the entire series here.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in My Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you…. ” – John 15:27 NLT
Watching and Waiting
How often do you find yourself waiting for something in life––the school year to end, the clock to hit 5:00 p.m., the holidays to arrive. When there’s something we’re looking forward to, we watch the clock and the calendar with anticipation.
But what do we do in the meantime? How we spend our time while we wait for something to come is just as important as the arrival of what we’re waiting for. Schools don’t ask you to stare at a wall until summer vacation. A job doesn’t pay you to sit at your desk until quitting time. There are still obligations throughout the year to fulfill before the holidays arrive. You’re expected to do something while you wait.
Patiently Waiting
The Gospel message tells us of the glorious day that Jesus returns and makes all things new––welcoming us into our new heavenly home. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to sit idly by and twiddle our thumbs until that time comes.
As we wait for Jesus to come and get us, He calls us to carry on His ministry by proclaiming the Good News, baptizing people, and making disciples who grow in love for God and others. This is active waiting. And we can only get to this point when we learn how to bear the fruit of patience.
Growing in Patience
Anticipation prevents us from productivity. It distracts us from the task at hand. It causes us to sit around until what we want arrives. But patience compels us into a different way of thinking. It allows us to hold onto our anticipation with joy while also being able to set our minds to the mission of God.
We can grow in patience by trusting that God’s plans will all come to pass in His perfect timing. So we don’t have to sit around antsy for things to change. Instead, we can believe that what we’re waiting for will arrive in due time; and until it does we can use our time wisely for a greater purpose. Believe in God’s promises. Trust in His Word. What He says will come to pass. When you hold onto these truths, patience will grow in your heart.
