Few things show us how impatient we are like the times we are forced to wait.
The waiting can be for anything – small or great, a short or long wait. And it would seem we have enough practice on ordinary days that we should get better at it than we usually do.
Think how many times a day you routinely might need to wait. You wait for the coffee to brew, for the toaster to pop up, for the microwave to go off, and more before you are even into the busiest part of your day. Then you wait on your kids to get up or your spouse to leave for work. Add to that the wait at a stop sign or traffic signal or someone to pick up the phone when you are on hold and it all starts to add up. These are little nuisances that most of us just expect and learn to roll with most of the time.
Traffic delays due to construction, bad weather, or accidents happen often as well and on days when they do, those little routine annoyances seem to be more frustrating for us. Waiting shadows us most days.
Waiting on results from doctor’s offices or regarding legal issues we may face are harder to endure. We are more likely to experience anxiety and stress waiting on these as well as the results from exams or job interviews.
In a world where much of the time is spent hurrying from one thing to another, we do not like to wait.
Even so, we live in a waiting world.
In listening to an address by John Ortberg, I was struck by how he spoke about how we live with waiting. He talked about living in a Saturday world as he reflected on the disciples after Jesus was crucified and buried. He noted that we see more than one example of 3rd Day stories as we read in the Bible.
What are 3rd Day stories? They are ones that follow a similar pattern:
- Day 1 – Trouble of some kind
- Day 2 – Silence and waiting (You don’t even know it’s a three-day story if it is happening to you!)
- Day 3 – Deliverance
For the disciples on that Saturday Sabbath so long ago, heaven was silent.
Some of us have experienced times when heaven was silent when we wanted an answer.
What choice do we have when it is Saturday and we are waiting?
As John Ortberg reflected on C.S, Lewis’ book, Surprised by Joy, he noted we have three options for Saturday. We can despair of all hope or that an answer or relief or deliverance will ever come. We can operate in denial of our anguish or the promise of tomorrow and Saturday ending, or we can wait.
We live in a Saturday world.
Not only do we wait for so many of these things I mentioned, but we also wait for the return for us that Jesus promised when He appeared to the disciples after that long Saturday had ended and Sunday had come. We have a choice about how we wait for Him.
“Friday is behind us, but Sunday hasn’t come. We live in a sinful world. We get sick, lose people we love; we have trouble. We live in a Saturday world.
Is it possible it is the miraculous day? If we can find Jesus in hell, in death…then we can find Him anywhere!”
John Ortberg
I’ve never been good at submitting to “the way things are” on this fallen planet, but I’m finding it even more challenging to trust God when Saturday lands on one of my kids. We’re always in the growth process, Pam. Thanks for helping us along.
I hear you, Michele. I have been faced with that with children and now grandchildren as well and it is very difficult indeed. We love them so much, but then I must recall that God loves us/them even more and then I wonder how difficult the wait is for Him. I then consider that time is not for Him as it is for us and I take a breath knowing He sees my angst and loves me anyway.💕
Waiting is difficult but necessary! The new life are found in the seeds of waiting before they burst forth into luscious new growth.
Bless you Pam,
Jennifer
So true and well said, Jennifer!
Hugs and blessing,
Pam💕
Waiting is never easy–but it’s easier knowing that the Deliverer is with us. We don’t have to get hung up on the when, because we already know he will. Our ‘Saturday wait’ may last years, but we know who wins in the end :).
So very true, Anita! Our challenge is to hold on to that truth when we are in a lengthy or hard waiting season.🍁
Great post, Pam! Waiting for the coffee to brew is the worst! LOL “Surprised by Joy” is a great book! This post reminds me of that great sermon (I can’t remember the preacher’s name—forgive me) about Sunday’s Coming… We hear it mostly at Easter, but it’s a great one!
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
I recall that sermon as well, Patsy. I think it has been used by a number of pastors now. I just cannot recall who preached it first.😊
Oh I do not wait well! Thanks for this today, Pam! I’m waiting for healing in a certain area of life right now, and I needed these reminders about trust!
God bless you, Stacey! I will pray for you in this today💝
It comes down to trusting, doesn’t it? Always in a hopeful state of trust. I’ll be looking up that John Ortberg book!
Nice post, and beautiful photos!
Years ago, it was brought to my attention that Advent is the season of waiting–so, during Advent, pray when you find yourself waiting. This idea has been a great blessing to me.
Love what you shared about Advent and waiting! Thanks so much for sharing it with me!
that is a wonderful post !!!! Fanatic photo!!!
Thanks so much for sharing on Nanahood! I love this post! And the photos are breathtaking!
Thank you!! My friend, Rob Blair, who did the photos is a master with his craft and lens😊
Pam – I loved this post. I am so glad we were neighbors on Anita’s link-up. I don’t like waiting and seem to do a lot of it. You reminded me the choice is mine how I wait. Thank you. Maree Dee
Thanks do much Maree Dee❤️