Hurry up… and wait

Last January, our youth embarked on a year-long journey through the Bible. Just this week, we completed our exploration of Exodus, the second book in our trek. Despite being only two books into the journey (Genesis and Exodus), we are already uncovering a significant theme in the lives of God's people. 

You may be familiar with it: “Hurry up and wait!” 

Here’s what we’re seeing. God reveals Himself to His people. God makes a covenant with them. The covenant takes a long time to manifest. AND God’s people don’t like how long it takes! 

Somehow, I think we can relate. Especially in our “have it your way” and “get it now” culture. Think about it. We can customize just about everything to our liking (especially in virtual spaces) and get it in “less than 30 minutes or it’s free.” Fast food, social media, AI (artificial intelligence), Amazon (or any online retailer for that matter), 3D printers, and many other sources have spoiled us to the point we really don’t have to wait for anything. 

Yet, when it comes to the things that really matter, time is needed! We have to “hurry up and wait!” 

Relationships take time. 

Health takes time. 

Learning takes time. 

Growth takes time. 

And when we try to circumvent time, it usually harms us. Take our health for example. For years athletes have looked for and used “hacks” to get bigger, better, faster and stronger more quickly. They turned to steroids, growth hormones and many other substances to achieve faster results and their lives, health and careers were harmed in the long run or cut short because of it.  

So what does it mean to “hurry up and wait?!” 

It means that we begin with the end in mind. It means we have the goal, the promise, the covenant, the desired outcome or whatever it is, right in front of us.  

For example, in Genesis 12, God made a covenant with Abraham: 

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:1-3 NIV 

And when Abraham left, he always had God’s promise on his mind. It was his driving force. 

But he didn’t stop there. Abraham also did everything he could to prepare himself for the fulfillment of the promise. This is the “hurry up” part of the equation. It’s a bit like reverse engineering. Ask yourself what you can do to be ready for the realization of whatever it is you are waiting for. Then do it! That way, when the day arrives, you will be ready! 

Now here’s the catch. Preparing does not mean taking short cuts, looking for loopholes, cheating or forcing things to happen so we don’t have to wait. This is what gets us into trouble. 

Again, look at Abraham. He got tired of waiting for God’s timing and took matters into his own hand. Long story short (if you are interested, read Genesis 12:1-21:20), Abraham’s impatience created a rift in the people of the Middle East that persists to this day. 

And we do the same thing. We get tired of waiting, we get lazy, impatient, frustrated, and decide to “speed up the process.” 

The problem is, if we do this, we aren’t truly ready when the time comes! 

News flash: God’s timing is perfect, ours isn’t! 

Preparation is a time of learning, growing, building, and changing. Not just for us, but for others as well. It’s a time for God to shape us into the people God desires us to be, no matter how long it takes. 

This is where faith comes in. We trust that God is faithful, at work and molding us while we do what we can to be ready without forcing things to happen. 

In Abraham’s case fulfillment began when he was the ripe old age of 100 and didn’t come to full fruition until Jesus came thousands of years later: 

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. – Galatians 3:7-9 NIV 

Waiting is hard. It isn’t easy. It isn’t fun. Especially when everything in our culture is telling us not to. But it is necessary if we are going to be all God is calling us to be and to be ready for all God has in store for us. And it’s not like we have nothing to do while we wait! We have a lot of work, a lot of preparing to do if we are going to be ready! 

What promises has God made to you? 

What is God calling you to “hurry up and wait for?” 

What can you do to prepare while you trust God and wait? 

As you reflect on these questions, remember God’s words to the Israelites when they lost their home and were scattered all over the earth: 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 NIV 

And Jesus’ words as He left His disciples: 

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20b NIV 

Grace and Peace, 

Pastor Justin