God and His Promises

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. (Hebrews 6:15)

 

Paul has been writing and recounting the faith of the ‘greats’ among the Jewish people.  Abraham and Sarah waited twenty-five years for the child of promise.  Yes, twenty-five years.  They were in their nineties when they became parents to Isaac. 

 

Have you ever waited a really long time for something?  I mean, years?  I have.  And I have not always been patient. 

 

Waiting has been a journey and along the way I have grown tremendously.  One of the things I am currently doing is reading about training in my sport – road biking/cycling.  As I read and learn about training techniques, and what it takes to improve and become a champion, I realize the same principles hold true for my life and my work.   

 

Mental toughness.  Train with intention.  Focused efforts.  Specific targeted training to improve performance and meet training goals.  This is a different approach than I have used so far in my sport.

 

Abraham went about his life and waited patiently.  There was not a whole lot he could do to make it happen.  He simply had to wait.  Remain.  Believe. 

 

Waiting has always seemed like wasted time to me, in a way.  Hurry up and wait.  Life seems like endless periods of waiting in between short bursts of activity.  But, in reality, it isn’t.  Waiting is not so much a passive activity as an active one.  While the activity may seem absent, its work (the work of waiting) is profound, deep, and lasting.

 

Waiting gives our faith a chance to send down deep roots, and abide during seeming dormant periods.  Waiting gives us the tenacity to hold on and believe when we don’t see much happening on the outside.  Yet a lot is happening on the inside.  Waiting helps us focus on what we can control, not what we cannot control.  Waiting helps us learn to believe in ourselves and our abilities even in inhospitable conditions and circumstances.  Waiting helps us plan for times when the door of opportunity does open. Waiting allows us to shift our attention to other things and develop those things while we wait.  Waiting forces us to learn to be open to everything and hold on to nothing. 

 

Seems like waiting is a good teacher.  It brings out the best and worst in us.  It gives us opportunity for tremendous growth.  It develops our character, tenacity and the inner person. 

 

LORD, just as Abraham waited patiently to receive your promises, so must we.  My prayer is that you will fulfill your promises to me – in your perfect time and way.  I am open to receive your promises.  Amen.