The Growing Part

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. James 5:7 NKJV 

It's not often that a spiritual truth plants a Tom Petty song in my head. Or at least part of the chorus. But when I was working through a study of James at SheReadsTruth earlier month, a very profound lesson I learned came with an earworm.

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The lesson, as the verse above might have hinted at, was about patience. More specifically, waiting.

Waiting is not one of my strong suits, despite having plenty of opportunities to practice. I waited for the right guy to ask me to marry him. Waited six years after marrying him to finally have my first child. And, of course, waiting room after waiting room (they are NOT inaccurately named) for doctor visits, surgeries, consultations, and whatnot.

And it's hard. Waiting, that is. Cuz while you wait, it's easy to dwell. To second-guess. When, as the day 20 lesson says, "our flesh likes to take over."

As pressure builds, we turn on those we care about most, grumbling against one another. We look at others and judge out of our own aching, empty parts. We forget that our own Judge is standing at the door, with His hand on the handle. We get exasperated in our impatience, swearing, negotiating with the Lord, carelessly throwing around thoughtless phrases like “Oh dear Lord, if I have to wait another day!” or “For heaven’s sakes, this shouldn’t be so hard.”

We want it to be easy. We want everything to come fast. We want things in OUR time - and our time is yesterday. The waiting is indeed the hardest part.

But it is also when you have the greatest potential for growth. Cuz God changes us (if we'll let Him)

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while we wait. And sometimes, perhaps that's why we're waiting. Because the Master Gardener is growing our faith, our hope, our love, our self-control (and more) through that waiting. And the Gardener can't - won't - be rushed in this season.

And He knows what we need. What's best for us. And often, we won't learn unless we are waiting.

So let Him grow you. Cuz though the waiting IS the hardest part, it is also the growing part. And growing is  exactly what every child of God should be doing.

Father, help me to not get impatient when you have me wait. Stop me from trying to get ahead of you - from attempting to circumvent your growing process. I know You know what is best for me. Help me to grow in my waiting - to become exactly who You want me to be. And Lord, don't end my waiting until You have achieved Your purpose in me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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Scripture Stories: Timeless Truths