Most people hate to wait! Not me … I LOVE it! (The people who know me best are shaking their heads in disbelief!) Okay … you got me! I am not all that fond of waiting. But I will say this … I have grown to appreciate it! And guess where I learned the importance of waiting? If you guessed my backyard smoker (grill) then you guessed correctly! Most of the time when I cook meat in my smoker it requires a lengthy period. If I rush the process, then I will be in trouble. The meat won’t taste the best. Let me teach you a little hint about smoking meat. After you take it off the smoker you are supposed to let the meat “rest”. That means … you must wait! Are you kidding me? I am ready to dive and devour those ribs … and I have to let them rest? My friends this is an exercise in patience!
When I was reading my bible this year, I had many chances to highlight scripture that I felt God was specifically showing me for my life. There it was! 27 chapters deep in the book of Psalms. And get this … it was the LAST verse in the chapter. I even had to WAIT until I got to the end of the chapter to find it. But there it was. Perfect timing from God.
Psalm 27:14 (NLT) – “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”
I not only have it highlighted… I wrote MY NAME right beside it … with an exclamation point! (See picture)
God knows we get impatient. He also knows we can drag our feet. God has something special for us, but it requires HIS timing … not ours. For what is God asking you to be patient and trust Him? Healing? Finances? Relationships? The salvation of family members? Family situations? Appreciation? Justice? A promotion? Heaven? Take my word for it … Wait patiently!
You will have to excuse me now. I have a pork shoulder that has been in the smoker for 8 hours and it is time for it to rest. A wise person once said, “Good things come to those who ….”
Pastor Jim
