Hurry Up and Wait!

Hurry up and wait. That’s a phrase that often echos in my mind as I sit at an airport gate. But during the holidays the phrase has taken on a slightly new meaning to me. A recent experience reminded me of a truth so simple but one so easy to forget.

Hurry up and wait. That’s a phrase that often echos in my mind as I sit at an airport gate. But during the holidays the phrase has taken on a slightly new meaning to me. A recent experience reminded me of a truth so simple but one so easy to forget.

In a particular relational situation we had come to an impasse. Both of us held strong opinions and both had good reasons why our different conclusions were valid. Does that sound familiar?

As a person bent toward action it would have been my natural style to fire off another rather direct and confrontational email. Thankfully, I believe, the Spirit slowed me down with the thought “wait, take time to pray.” In a word, “hurry up and wait.” In so many situations, God is working on each person and His work is often slower than my hurried American demand of instant results.

Several days later, in God’s right time, and without my taking any further action, the issue resolved in a positive way without conflict. I was reminded (and inwardly rebuked) of how important it is to stop, pray and allow time for God to work in me or in others. Hurry up and wait on Him.

Jesus’ example of taking extended times to pray, especially with significant decisions ahead of Him, (Luke 6:12, Luke 22:39) models our dependence upon prayer and allowing time to be alone with God for wisdom and for His work in all concerned.

I’m not very good at waiting, but as a result of my recent experience I’m challenged in 2011 to remember to “hurry up and wait” so that I may stay better “in step with the Spirit.”