John 2:4 " 'My dear woman, why do you involve me?' Jesus replied. 'My time has not yet come.'"
"In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made." (John 1:1-3)
Here, 'The Word' = Jesus, the diety, the son of the Trinity. Jesus, the Word, has been around since before the beginning of time. And, all that time, Jesus was, and is, God. Time is a funny thing. A minute feels like a year when you are anxious; when joyful, a year feels like a minute. I am bound by time that seems to constantly change shape depending on my circumstances. And when I feel as though I'm waiting on my turn for the next steps in my life, time. just. seems. to. d r a g. In the selfish pride of my flesh, I feel above the need to wait. I feel as though, if I am destined for something; be it a job, a relationship, a new home or car- then of course, I must deserve it now rather than later. I feel certain that I am not alone in this feeling of entitlement.
Jesus was 30 years old before he began his earthly ministry. Jesus, the God-man himself who was around before we could fathom the idea of time, walked this earth for 30 years in waiting. He knew of his destiny and his ministry before he was conceived in Mary's womb. He knew of it as a young boy, sitting at the feet of the rabbis in the temple. He knew of it as a young man as he trained to be a carpenter. And yet, even still, when his mother called him to use his divine power to act, he responded with "My time has not yet come." Even though he knew what his purpose and his plan was, he still had to wait. God had to wait!!
What do you feel you're waiting on?
Are you waiting with anxiety as you pace around in circles in your heart until the time comes?
Are you waiting with an indignant heart that feels you deserve more than this seemingly useless time on the sidelines?
OR
Are you waiting, in perfect peace, on the Lord, who is both sovereign and good?
I must confess that I often do not wait very well. Most of the time, I wait anxiously, with fear that my time will never come. My prayer, is that I will wait, not on my next circumstances to finally arrive. Rather, that I will wait, spending my time sitting at the feet of the Lord, simply resting in his presence. I pray that he will use my time on the sidelines not as a time to continually shout "Put me in, coach! I'm ready! Put me in-- I know I can play!", but as a time that I study the skills of those on the field, to focus in on the wisdom and leading of the coach--- basically, that I use my time of preparation to actually prepare. And regardless of whether or not I ever get to play, I will know that God is still good.
Lord, thank you for the example you've given me in Jesus. When I need to grow in humility, please reveal to me the pride of my heart that feels entitled to be blessed with a next step, even though you have called me to wait. You are good and what you do is good. Teach me to wait on YOU.
Psalm 27.14 "Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 130:5-6 "I wait for the Lord, m soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."
Isaiah 26:8 "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."
Isaiah 30:18 "Yes the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!"
Isaiah 64:4 "Since the ancient times no one has heard, no ear had perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him."
