Wait for it...

Last weekend I had the privilege of spending a day with my son and his family. It was a fairly quiet day, but we had plans to go to the fireworks show in a neighboring town that evening.

Almost every outing to a 3-year-old is exciting, but to my grandson, fireworks rank up towards the top! He was so excited when we finally got to leave that evening. The only problem was, the event wasn't JUST fireworks... it also included a hotdog and watermelon feed before the fireworks, as well as a few activities for the kids. The activities helped occupy some time, but there was still a lot of time to wait.

Waiting. Waiting isn't easy for some adults I know, and it certainly doesn't come easily for a 3-year-old. We all managed and I'm sure, to him, it felt like we waited "forever," but he made it until dark and the fireworks show was well worth the wait! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

But on the way home I got to thinking, maybe my prayer life is a lot like a 3-year-old.

I think I have a pretty good prayer life. I don't hold much back, if anything, when it comes to talking with Jesus. My relationship with Christ is grounded in trust... I think.

Trust. We throw that word around a lot these days. Mostly in a negative way. If you listen to the news, no one trusts anyone anymore. But that should be different when it comes to my walk with Jesus. I WANT it to be different.

The dictionary says the word trust means 'believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of' something or someone. I know Jesus is all of that and more! I rely on Him always. I know and believe His word is truth and He is able to do ALL things, and He is my strength.

But if I truly trust Him, why am I so impatient in my prayer life? Why can't I wait and trust He will do what His Holy Word says He will do?

There are more times than not that I pray and want an immediate answer. I'm like a 3-year-old waiting for the sun to disappear so I can see the fireworks light up the sky. And like a child, there are moments of content, but there are also moments of pure frustration. Times when I want to throw a tantrum and yell and holler because I've waited long enough. I don't understand why. Why? Why must I always wait?

It is in those times that I have to remind myself that He only wants what's best for me, that His plan isn't always MY plan. I was also reminded this week of Joshua and the city of Jericho.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

God told Joshua that He had delivered Jericho into his hands - like it was already done, already accomplished, even before Joshua told the Israelites what the plan was. And Joshua didn't argue! No questioning, no 'but,' no rolling of the eyes, no tantrum... Joshua just did it! He trusted the Lord and just did it.

AND Joshua expected everyone with him to have the same attitude. Joshua had taken the place of Moses after Moses' death. He was to lead God's people to the promised land. And now the only thing standing in their way was the fortified walls of Jericho and the army on the other side of it. It had taken them 40 years to get to that point, 40 years of mistakes and hardships, and I imagine a positive attitude was hard to come by.

I'm pretty sure if I waited 40 years for a prayer to be answered, I probably would have long given up! But the Israelites did what Joshua told them to do - even if their attitude wasn't the best. And their obedience resulted in victory! All those years of waiting, all the hardships and pain, led them to the promised land.

This scripture weighs heavy on my heart sometimes. Do I trust the Lord enough to just listen? Listen and DO!? I know that still small voice, I hear it and I know Him. But do I have the maturity to DO without doubting? Or wait, no matter how long it takes, for an answer to prayer?

On two different occasions God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. God lifted Joshua up in encouragement - maybe because He knew, that in his humanness, he couldn't do it without it. That's my hope, my prayer. That I can take the encouragement from that still small voice and those around me and do whatever God has asked of me - without hesitation. And then be prepared to wait, no matter how long it takes.

And like my sweet grandson, when the moment comes, and I'm done waiting, I can sit in amazement and take in the awesomeness that was worth the wait. And in that moment, as I'm standing in awesome wonder, I hope I can say - I'd do that again... in a heartbeat.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”