Waiting On God's Timing

“Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.” (Joel 2:23)



For my friends on the Oregon coast, it’s hard to understand verses like this one. After all, it rains all the time on the Pacific coast. It rains in the morning, afternoon and evening. It can rain for several days—even weeks—in a row. In the Great Northwest, for those who park on the coastal regions, rain is as common as California traffic jams. But for us here in Boise, ID we can truly relate to Joel’s image of joy after a refreshing rain. In fact, until a few days ago, Boise had not seen a soaking rain for most of the summer. We’re high desert. Dry and dusty. Joel’s Jewish audience could relate because they were desert people, too. Rain was largely confined to two seasons: spring and fall. So when these rains came, the people rejoiced. It wasn’t a brief shower or an empty windstorm. It was a soaking rain that cleansed, flooded and changed things. Such rains caused flowers to rise, crops to mature and gave new watering holes to both man and beast. That’s why I love Joel’s connection of God’s provision of rain as evidence that He is good and that He is God.

So what’s this mean to you and me? Simple. We all have our dry, dusty desert seasons in life. The finances may have dried up. The dreams may have gone dusty. The once full jar of joy is now down to its last drop. The message remains the same: Be patient and wait. The rains will come. The Father never abandons His children. You may thirst for a season, but JOY will come. I promise. And so does God.


NOTABLE QUOTABLES ON PATIENCE:

The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. -- Moliere

Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown. --Chinese Proverb

All things come to him who waits - provided he knows what he is waiting for. -- Woodrow T. Wilson

Patience and fortitude conquer all things. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself. -- St. Francis de Sales

Everything comes gradually and at its appointed hour. -- Ovid

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. -- John Quincy Adams


Father, we live in an impatient culture. It’s easy to fall in the trap to satisfy our desires right now. So forgive our impatience. Forgive our desire to want blessing every day (and especially forgive us when we miss the daily blessings you do send!). Give us strength to wait on Your Timing for all things, whether we understand it or not. We know you are a Father who loves His children and we’re thankful to be called, chosen and cherished. Amen.