It's in the Waiting

Now! Everything in our lives has become so centered on that word. We want the Wi-Fi to work, now. We need the newest technology, now. We rush through our day because our bosses’ need it done, now.
 
We’ve become so reliant on same-day delivery, immediate responses through emails and web-based search engines that we have forgotten about patience. The ever-churning of our instant gratifying world has removed our ability to sit and wait.
 
It’s the same in our faith lives’.
“WHAT?! Good, Christian people are impatient?” …Yes, you’ve got it exactly! We want Jesus to overflow our heart in one adoration visit. We want God to answer our prayer by the time we get home. We want our life-plan to match up with His character plot. We have become so used to now that we expect God to snap His mystical fingers and align our life so that everything is perfect… even if it’s our “perfect”.
 
And while, yes, God most certainly could sweep over us as we sleep and re-arrange our lives’ to be exactly as we think they should be, He doesn’t. Take, for example, when Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead. Martha and Mary sent word that Lazarus was sick, and instead of immediately running to their aid, Jesus “stayed two days longer in the place where He was” (John 11:6). But why in the world would He wait? Why wouldn’t the Man who loved Lazarus so much get up and go?! Well, in a simple way, it wouldn’t have been as cool. Think about it. Jesus made people well all the time. He would smear dirt over eyes, and the blind would once again see. He would utter: “Your faith has saved you, go in peace” (Luke 7:50) and the sick would walk. Healing was no big deal for our perfect savior, and people would blame it on circumstance. But to bring someone, who was dead for FOUR days back to life… that would be an undeniable miracle.
 
Don’t worry, the story isn’t over! After the death of their brother, Martha and Mary were told Jesus was coming. THIS is the best part!    Mary stays home. She’s so defeated by her waiting that she doesn’t have enough faith or trust to even greet our Lord. Martha, however, goes to meet Him. She starts with some classic, female sass: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Jesus, in all His mercy, asks Martha if she believes He is the resurrection. At her “Yes!”, Jesus calls out to Lazarus, “Come forth” (John 11:43) and don’t you know it, the guy comes walking out of the tomb!!! CRAZY, right?!?
                                                                                
So, are you Martha, or are you Mary? Do you sit at home, doubting He’ll do it? Or do you show up?    Make the journey to your church, chapel or favorite path. Go to the place you’ve met Him before. It's hard, believe me I know. You wont “feel” something magical every time you pray and you might never have a burning bush type of experience, and that’s OK. Wherever your “place” is... just show up and be. Don't feel obligated to speak or even look up. Just be.
 Peace is in the waiting.