I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15
When I was younger, I prayed for patience not realizing how God normally answers this request. He taught me patience by making me wait. There were tough things - like waiting for the right job. There were exciting things - like waiting for babies to be born. But the story I always tell people is how God taught me patients when I started working with clay.
Clay - like many circumstances - won't be rushed. Moving too quickly on the wheel can result in a pretty big mess. Forcing the clay to drive too quickly can result in unwanted cracks, rendering a piece useless. Like most potters, I learned the hard way - working with clay takes patience.
The truth is though, I may be a more patient man than I once was (ask my wife), but I still hate to wait (ask my wife).
Lord, will I ever really learn this lesson of waiting? I'm always in such a hurry to get to the next step. I so often forget to linger - to slow down enough to notice the little things. I so often forget to savor - to enjoy the pleasures of being alive.
Father, I'm going to try hesitating when my normal response is to hurry. I'm going to try watching for You when my normal response is to go it alone. Help me to slow down today. Come, Lord Jesus.
I'll be waiting.