You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!—Isaiah 26:3
It’s no secret I don’t like waiting in lines, following slow traffic, or calling to ask a simple question of a real person and following a voice response system into the abyss. I know God is refining my patience because He gives me plenty of opportunities to fix my thoughts on Him and get this right. In this instant world where everything from our next meal to information to real time communication is right at our fingertips, we’ve lost the art of waiting. Peace and patience go hand in hand. It is the fruit of allowing the Holy Spirit to control our lives (Galatians 5:22). When we’ve lost our patience, we’ve lost our peace.
If we can’t be patient through the minor inconveniences in life, it will be especially hard to find God’s peace in waiting for the big stuff. There are some desires hidden in the deepest places of my heart—some unanswered prayers—where God’s promises have yet to unfold. And from my perspective, some of these prayers are time sensitive! Sometimes I feel like the disciples crossing the lake to escape the crowds. When a fierce storm arose and the high waves filled the boat with water, they cried out desperately for Jesus to DO something: “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are going to drown?” Jesus was taking a nap (Mark 4:35-39)!
I’ve crafted a prayer of patience for those times when I feel like the Lord is not moving according to my timetable. Maybe it will help you find His peace while you’re waiting…
Father God, I know you want to bless me with the gift of divine patience and I want to receive this gift. Help me to wait expectantly in your presence for your promises and plans to unfold. I trust your timing is perfect. In this time of waiting, help me to seek your face and draw closer to your heart. Use this time to deepen my relationship with you and increase my faith. Protect me from discouragement when your plans unfold at a slower pace than I would like. Protect me from believing the lie that my dreams have died and it’s too late for my prayers to be answered. Remind me that your ways are counter intuitive to the ways of the world. Father, give me the faith and patience that you gave Abraham and Sarah who waited a lifetime for your promises to come to pass. Let Jesus be my model for a patient lifestyle. He had only three years to accomplish the greatest Kingdom assignment ever known to mankind, but He moved at a holy and patient pace, trusting you with every step. Help me to remember that you know the desires of my heart. I pray that my trust and confidence in you will increase with each day I wait in your perfect peace. In His name, amen.