When God Is Not in a Hurry

Simone Weil writes, “Waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of the spiritual life.” We don't wait well. We are into microwaving, God, on the other hand, is usually into marinating. There is the story of Phillip Brooks, a famous pastor of the last century. One day he was in his office, pacing the floor, frustrated. Somebody walked in and saw him and asked, "What's wrong, pastor?" He said, "I'm in a hurry and God is not!” Sometimes God waits because we are thinking too small. He wants us to ask for something bigger and He wants to give us something better. Sometimes God waits because he wants us to be prepared for a bigger and better answer - and we are not yet ready. Before God changes our situation, he wants to change us. Sometimes God waits because our timing is off. We think we have to have it now, when we don't. Timing is important in life. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 8:6, ‘There is a right time and there is a right way to do everything, but we know so little.’ We have to learn to walk in the timing of God.

—George Flattery