The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)
Everyone likes to play fast. At the very least, they don’t want to have to wait for the golfers in front of them.
While slow play is a problem that needs to be rectified on the PGA Tour, I am often impressed with the outward demeanor of leaders on the final day who are forced to wait it out in the later holes, as groups ahead of them jam up. These guys at the back end are dealing with all the nerves that come from playing near the lead and then they must also squelch the desire to run ahead and throttle everyone who is making them wait to play shot after shot.
What it takes to win under circumstances like these is a patient faith. When your rhythm is being dictated by someone else, you have to keep telling yourself that everything is going to work out just fine.
Tell me you’re seeing the parallel between this tour circumstance and the waiting you often must do in your own life. It’s not so much that you have to wait. It’s that you have to hold out hope during the wait. It’s that you have to trust everything will be all right.
For the believer in Jesus, this should be an easier task. After all, we are those who say that “God has everything under control.” It’s just that the way we control ourselves doesn’t always demonstrate that we believe this!
When you consult the list in Hebrews 11 of those who are commended for their faith, you will find several whose faith was proven in the waiting.
Noah slowly built an ark, a container for some mystery. Likely he toiled for years. Finally, the rains came. Then add another year of faith that God would let him escape this floating menagerie.
Abraham and Sarah thought no son would ever come to them. They were 80, 90, 100 years old—and finally Isaac was born.
Moses was run from the court of the Pharaoh and spent 40 years as a herdsman. Would God ever remember him?
Then there was Joseph in the jail cell, David in the caves of En Gedi, Nehemiah serving wine to the king of Babylon. There was the faithful remnant of believers, looking for Messiah. There were the blind, the lame, the demonized, all who finally found their Healer.
Are you waiting for God even now? Wait with faith. Trust in the God who is our hope. He will do his thing, and your patience will be rewarded.
—
Jeff Hopper
May 6, 2013
Copyright 2013 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.