Strengthen. Renew. Reap. These are the words God uses to illustrate what happens when we wait. Surely there are easier, less painful ways of obtaining these things that God has decided we need.

Wait for what?

In my (amateur) opinion, society has evolved in a way that doesn't require waiting. We went from the Victorian Era where everything was slowed way down to the Modern Era that was a little faster and a little more "convenient". We moved quickly into the Digital Age where everything is instant; no waiting at all. We don't wait for our turn at the ER, we are seen almost instantly. We don't wait for test results. We don't wait for food to be cooked. We simply do not wait.

As saints and armed occupants in the Lord's Army, we are not excluded from the instant gratification that has developed. An unfortunate side effect of the "no wait" policy is a delusional sense of control. And for unnamed emotional reasons, we are desperately grasping at control. Control that seems to slip easily from our grasp. When we consciously choose to be obedient to the "wait", we usually don't get to know why. We almost never get to know how long. But if we listen carefully, we may be gifted with the reason. Knowing is supposed to make things easier...

I know why this is happening. I know what the end result will be. I have the plan. I have the outcome. I understand the stakes. The glory of God.

It doesn't make it lighter.

I know about rest. About laying "it" down. I know how to take my burden honestly to the Lord.

It doesn't take away the pain.

39 stripes. A naked walk. A crown of thorns. Nailed to a cross. The darkness of the absence of the Father.

That definitely doesn't make it easier