The Virtue of Waiting

Waiting is hard.

We wait in traffic,

We wait in the queue,

We wait in the line...

We wait in the grocery store,

We wait in the gas station,

We wait in the clinic...

We wait in the cold and dark,

We wait in the heat and rain...

We twiddle our thumbs,

We stifle our yawns, 

We fret inwardly in frustration...

In Psalm 40:1-3, David says, 

“I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.” 

David waited and waited and waited for God to answer his prayer. 

Yet as he looks back at this time of delay, he praises God. 

Waiting is good, 

Here we develop the virtues of submission, humility, patience, joyful endurance, persistence in well-doing...

Virtues that take years to learn.

Have Thine own way, Lord! 

Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter, 

I am the clay;

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still. 

Waiting for God is never a waste of time.