They say “good things come to those who wait,” but frankly I don’t want to wait. Whether it’s some new toy, saving up to buy a new car, or working through a difficult situation, I want immediate resolve. And in an age of instant credit and microwave dinners, it makes it difficult to practice this discipline.
In Acts 1 the apostles were instructed by Jesus not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the Holy Spirit, which they heard Jesus speak of. In that culture it was a lot easier to wait, so this is what the apostles did. The outcome was phenomenal. A great thing happened in that the Holy Spirit came as promised. The result was that Peter was able to speak boldly about the things of God, and church grew by three thousand people that day.
I have to confess that waiting on God is hard. For years my wife Jennifer and I struggled with wanting a child and not being able to conceive. I was bitter toward God for not answering our prayers and giving us the desire of our hearts. However, I kept pursuing the things of God while I continued to wait. Then one day after a seminary class, I came home and Jennifer exclaimed “I’m pregnant!” Ten years later we still rejoice over God’s blessing, our son Zachary.
Good things do come to those who wait.
