Waiting

In our world, it's normal and encouraged for life to be convenient and easy.  I'm reminded of stories my grandmother used to tell me of a different time when things weren't as easy.  Waiting, patience, and endurance were common.  It took all day to do the laundry.  Water  had to be brought in from the well, then heated on the fire.

There was this walking preacher man of theOzarks that she liked to talk about.  He used to literally walk from town to town to preach.  He didn't know where he would stay or who would feed him along the way. Grandma proudly tells of how her daddy used to put him  up when he came to town.  Can you imagine, the patience that preacher had, trusting God to literally meet his needs daily?  That is so different from what my world is like.  And I'm sure it always didn't go well. I imagine that some days he was hungry or uncomfortable, cold or afraid.

In contrast, I think my needs have to be met immediately.  Fast food had better be fast, and hot, and perfect. We have instant entertainment, cozy homes, and are surrounded by people to influence us, both good and bad.  At any time I can play a podcast or listen to a spiritual speaker, send a text to a friend to encourage, or call my pastor for a word.  Spiritual support is readily available to me.  I can find a church that is conveniently located, comfortable, and molds to my preferennces in teaching style, dress, and music. Yet we still sometimes feel spiritually dry.  What if we had to wait?  What if I had to walk miles to meet with my Christian brothers and sisters? What if we didn't have a different translation of the Bible in every room of our house, a brilliant sermon every Sunday, wise Bible study teachers on Wednesday night, Sunday morning, and even Sunday night?  

What excuse do we have for spiritual dryness?  Perhaps if I had to work harder at my faith I would apprecite it more and grow more.  Perhaps our "convenient Christianity" is hindering our faith; God isn't always speaking the language of convenience.  God sometimes wants us to want, to persevere, to endure, to be patient, to work.  We are not always going to find our fulfillment right away.  See Hebrews 11 for a picture of faithful waiting.  

Sometimes the "convenient" things in our lives are getting in the way.  Pray for eyes to see.  Pray for patience.