Wait For It, Wait For It

A previous post mentioned a poker player who saw no reason to be thankful this year, because he hasn't moved out of our area.  He concluded God didn't answer his prayer.

But we saw another possible explanation, based on the statement from some ministers that God's answers to prayer go beyond a simple yes-or-no.  "Maybe God wants you to wait," we told the man.  "Patience is a virtue."

Let's face it: patience isn't easy for a lot of people.  We were talking with a man who sometimes makes big bets with small hands, hoping to run off opponents and amass a large chip lead in a hurry.  By comparison, our approach tends to be on the patient side -- waiting for "the right moment," as a TV commercial says.

Is patience really a virtue?  The New Testament shows it is....

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.... And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12, 14

Yet in the classic words of rock singer Tom Petty, "The waiting is the hardest part."  Poker players who have sat idle for several minutes can "get the itch," and play a marginal hand they wind up regretting.  But it's a balancing act -- because if you fold at the wrong time, big cards could come and a winning moment will be lost.

We all have to wait at some point, about something.  Believers in Christ have been waiting for something big for nearly 2,000 years:

....While we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.... - Titus 2:13

Yet we can relate to what the unthankful man at the poker player said.  We've been waiting most of this year for a new employment opportunity to open.  In the meantime, we search as best we can -- and we're praying for God to do the rest, either in correcting us or granting us favor with employers.  We trust God to provide, even if we don't know exactly when or how.

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.  The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. - Psalm 145:14-15

During the times in recent years when we've been waiting on God, a song from the movie Fireproof has come to mind.  Perhaps the words will help you know what to do, if you're in a waiting game of your own.