A pastor decided to change the order of service. He convinced himself that his congregation was bored and disinterested in his messages because they had been following the same format for several years.
For years the ushers would take up the offering, the choir would sing and then he would preach. To “mix” things up he decided that he would have the choir sing, then he would preach and the ushers would take up the offering at the close of the service.
Little Janie sat quietly through a particularly boring message. Finally, realizing that something was different she whispered to her Mom, “Do you think if we paid him now he would quit?”
Waiting is often difficult. We pray from a deep reservoir of faith believing that God is anxiously waiting to hear and answer our prayers. Sometimes the answers come quickly. Other times we do not understand the delay and lose heart and hope. We may even wonder if God is deaf to our requests.
Sometimes physicians give us a prescription with a bit of advice: “Now I assure you that this medication will work. But you are going to have to wait a few days before you are relieved of all of your symptoms. Be patient.”
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him,” said David. He was able to rest in God because of God’s faithfulness to him in the past. He had been deeply disappointed by many others but never by his Lord who always protected and defended him.
Prayer: Help us, Father, to be patient as we wait on You to answer our prayers. May our hope equal our need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.