There was a television commercial that was quite popular in the 70’s. Carly Simon would wail “Anticipation” as two little, freckle-faced boys oooh’d and ahhh’d at the kitchen table while the Heinz ketchup slowly poured out of the glass bottle onto the hamburgers Mom just made for them. Some of you may remember it, while others may wonder why they didn’t just buy the plastic bottle and squeeze it out faster. But that’s another conversation…
There was a romance to waiting, a delight in anticipation. Of ketchup.
Christmas presents have a similar allure. Who doesn’t remember sitting near the Christmas tree wondering what could possibly be in that beautifully wrapped box, or that one? Dreaming of all the possibilities! At our house during the Christmas season, my brother and I would lay on our bellies at the foot of the tree tormenting ourselves on a nightly basis. Finally, Mom would shoo us away, reminding us that we were not allowed to touch, shake, or peek. If we did – say it with me – “They would all go back!”
Our parents were teaching us the value of waiting. A lesson not learned in one shot.
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
The writer of Galatians reminds us not to become weary in doing good, which often includes waiting. This implies that we must do good a LOT. We need to spend a long time in obedience to reap the harvest. This does not imply perfection, but a heart’s desire to be in holiness for the Lord. Don’t be discouraged when you stumble; don’t give up when you get push-back. Instead stand up, brush off your knees, and stay the course. It is this repetition of walking in the same direction, falling, and getting back up that grows the fruit of patience in our lives.
But this type of waiting for patience to grow doesn’t sound very romantic. It sounds like hard work! So Paul details three important points:
- There is a proper timing to the harvest. The Lord who loves His daughters is faithful to bring the harvest at the proper time. He is not late. He is not early. His provision is perfectly measured and timed.
- The harvest is promised. The Lord of the harvest can be trusted with the harvest. He does not trick His daughters with false hope.
- We can’t give up. The Lord is His daughters’ biggest cheerleader. He doesn’t punish us for falling down; His grace is abundant and He knows we can do all things through Him. So He cheers us on until we believe it too and continue on with renewed hope.
There is a romance to waiting on the Lord. A delight in anticipating what He has for us.
As we wait, we draw close to Him. We experience His sovereignty. We discover He is trustworthy. We see deeper levels of His character. We learn to rest. We learn to be still. We learn to let Him fight for us. We learn to receive from Him. We learn to hear His voice. And when we hear His voice, we hear the lover of our soul say
You are adored.
You Are Adored 