We live in such a fast paced world. It is getting worse. All of our instant access to people and information makes us expect that all things should come so instantly. I find it so funny that my parents would send me off to camp knowing that the only communication with me would be for emergencies over a land line phone...and they would only get information about said emergency if someone was home to receive the call. They, otherwise, may have gotten a letter or postcard from me saying hello, but that was likely to get to them AFTER I had already come home. I believe my parents, and all previous generations of parents, had a much stronger prayer life. They had to completely give their children away to wherever they went. Even for a bike ride around the block.
Today, if someone doesn't answer our text messages quickly enough one of three things happen.
1. We wonder if that person is upset with us.
2. We are offended that we aren't important enough for an immediate response.
3. They are dead.
No patience. Then, we become so preoccupied mentally on whichever of those three things we jumped to that we cannot focus on the task at hand.
We want God to answer immediately, too. When He doesn't we think:
1. He isn't listening.
2. He doesn't care,,.our request is insignificant.
3. He is taking too long.
But this verse says quite the opposite. We can mark off one and two. Peter is explaining why there is not answer and it isn't because He hasn't heard or us doesn't care. He isn't being slow so we can mark that off the list. He is being patient. I love the use of the word toward in this translation. It doesn't say He is patient with us (though other translations do). With means accompanied by or possessing. Toward means in the direction, in relation to or going on; in progress. The word toward implies forward motion. God patience is moving in our direction and is in progress. I like that. We are on the receiving end of His patience (which goes back to my first post on patience and why Paul would pray for others to have His patience).
The Message translation says that God isn't putting us off, but He "is restraining Himself". So, why? Well, God is joy so we know that His patience is with joy. And on my second post I talked about hope being the same as patience with joy. And hope is knowing that there is a positive return for the waiting...the enduring. Look back at the verse. What is God's positive return?
That people would know Him and be saved.
Now, I know, I know. In light of your circumstances that this may not be comforting. God isn't immediately giving out justice maybe. Or you desperately need money...or a spouse, or a child, or just some answer of any kind. It is so hard to wait!!!! But allow the patience that is being directed toward you to sink in your soul.
God isn't in heaven with His nose up and avoiding you. He is intently focused on you and all around you. Someone in your midst needs Him. Don't miss it! Don't be consumed with your need for answer that you miss someone's need for a Savior.
If our heart is truly aligned with God then we want what He wants too, right? And we still need our answer, right? So maybe we could think of it this way...if God tarries on a promise for you then maybe He is about to give you a two for one! A promise for you and salvation for someone else.
Sounds good to me.
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