It’s been a couple of “Please Wait” days for me. Have you ever noticed that “Please Wait” days always happen when you are in a hurry? I am usually a patient person, with the exception of that little spinning circle that shows up on my computer, telling me to “Please Wait.” Yeah, I have to admit that patiently waiting for tech issues to clear up is not my spiritual gift.
A few days ago, I watched that little circle spin for almost five minutes. Then my computer notified me that a restart was needed. I clicked restart and waited a few more minutes until a black screen appeared with some computer language that basically meant… your computer just crashed. Oh, did I mention that this happened on a brand-new computer?
After a few hours on the phone with tech support, I learned that my new computer had somehow lost its operating system. In other words, the computer lost its mind. The good news is that I had only been using the computer for a few days, so there was not much data to lose.
The tech support person helped me install a new operating system; however, I think this computer needs to be returned to the store. In my opinion, a computer that loses its operating system is a computer that will probably lose my files.
So here I type… on my 13-year-old computer… as I “wait” for my new computer to remove my personal information. There must be a lot of activity in the background because the “Please Wait” circle is spinning, spinning, spinning.
Life is a series of starts and stops, sprinkled with a lot of "hurry up and wait" situations. By nature, we prefer activity. We hate to be put on hold. We detest traffic and we don’t like standing in lines. So… now we have call-waiting, traffic lights, self-checkout, and any number of express-delivery services.
By the time this article goes to print, the Women’s Bible Study group will have completed the Elijah study. God’s plan for Elijah required a lot of obedient waiting. Elijah waited…
- He waited at Cherith until God told him to go to Zarephath.
- He waited In Zarephath until God told him to go to Mount Carmel.
- He waited for the people to gather at Mount Carmel.
- He waited for the false prophets of Baal and Asherah to grow weary of crying out to their false gods.
- He waited for the fire.
- He waited for the rain.
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
God uses moments of waiting to grow and strengthen our faith. We may not be able to see it clearly, but God is accomplishing His plan in the background.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
There may be a lot of obedient waiting in our future, but it’s okay… we have a promise-keeping God who finishes what he starts.
Revelation 22:20 – “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Wait for it…
Remember this, you are loved, and you are always in my prayers.
In Christ, Cheryl