After a few weeks of clouds, this weekend was a cheerful delight. Sun and warm temperatures. A kind of spring tease. A reminder that spring is coming…in a few months.

With the warmer temperatures came the awakening of the hibernating species. Slowly wiggling. Trying to move and fly.

As I sat my daughter in her chair for lunch we heard a little buzzing sound. Looking up we both saw it. A black wasp trying to get its wings working again. The wasp landed in the light above the dining table and my daughter extends her arm upward. “Get it!”

I go for the fly swatter and re-enter. Again she shouts, “Get it!”

The wasp is still in the light. I tell her. “I would love to get it Sweetie, but it is too far in the light I can’t hit it there.”

Not understanding my logic she looks at me with expressive eyebrows. Soon enough the wasp tries to fly again and falls downward landing on the door below the knob. I aim and swat. My daughter behind me with a smile in her voice, “Got it!”

This story is sweet to me for a few reasons. First of all, my daughter was really communicating and I saw a glimpse of her understanding. Beyond that though something deeper. Something connecting me once again to my heavenly Father.

How often do I shout towards heaven demanding God to “Get it!” Take care of this problem, mess, scary thing in front of me. How often I expect God to be the vacuum cleaner, water on the fire, or giant bandage. It’s not so much that I want to deal with the problem I just want it to go away. “Get it, God. Take it away.”

While God has the power to do such things. And sometimes He does put out the fire. There are also situations where it is not time. Like with the wasp. My daughter thought it best if I get it immediately yet that was not an option in this situation. We needed to wait. Be patient.

Our world is full of instance gratification however our relationship with God is not. God is perfecting us, growing us, maturing us. Instant wants and needs fulfilled do nothing for our faith building.

God loves us very much. He sees the big picture. God has a plan for every life. He doesn’t take pleasure in seeing us hurting or struggling. God doesn’t find joy in us waiting for the desires of our hearts. However, God is beyond our thoughts. God sees all, knows all.

Hundreds of parenting books flood store bookshelves and in my experience thus far none of them encourage parents to give their children everything they demand. Why? It is not good for them. It is not good for your relationship with them as the parent/authority. As parents, we listen to the needs and wants of our children. Sometimes we give them their desires and other times we recognize it is not time yet. They need to wait, grow, and mature first.

Continue to pray. But if God says, “Wait.” after you demand, “Get it!” don’t be surprised.

Let’s challenge each other today to embrace the waiting. To except the time of growing and maturing. Let’s use it, grow deeper in our relationship with God. Let faith and trust expand in the safety of His leading.

 

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! ESV

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. NKJV

Psalm 37:7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. NLT

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. ESV