The Ability to Wait Well

In the light of what I have already written, and my ongoing situation here in L'Isle-sur-le-Doubs, today's reading from The Word for Today seems to be particularly appropriate. I reproduce it, here, in its entirety.

'My soul, wait silently for God...' Psalm 62:5
Daniel Coleman calls the ability to wait well 'the master attitude'. Having it requires three qualities. First, humility. '...as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters...So our eyes look to the Lord...' (Psalm 123:2 NKJV). The story's told about a man who waited so long to see his doctor that he ended up sending the doctor a bill for his time! Seriously, in life there's a correlation between status and waiting. Lower status people generally wait for higher status ones, and the wise learn to wait with grace. Waiting reminds us that we're not in charge; it humbles us in ways we need to be humbled Second, trust. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding' (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). Among trapeze artists, a special relationship exists between the flyer and the catcher. Once the flyer lets go, he must trust the catcher to grab him. Likewise, we must do what God tells us, then wait for Him, even when we don't clearly see His hand at work. Those are the seasons that deepen and develop our faith. Finally, expectation. 'My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.'(Psalm 62:5 NKJV) Eugene Peterson writes, 'In prayer, we are aware that God is in action, and that when the circumstances are ready, when others are in the right place, and when our hearts are prepared, He will call us into action. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts.' So the word for you today is, 'Learn to wait well, it's the master attitude!'

[The Word for Today is published by United Christian Broadcasters, and is available, free of charge to UK residents, from UCB using the online request form, and also online at www.ucb.co.uk ]