Is there anything more difficult than being still? Probably.
But by the way many of us act when we are supposed to be calm and let time pass by… you would think we we were having a root canal done on our private parts! (I don't know what that means but it sounds really uncomfortable!) The point is, very few of us enjoy waiting.
We want things done our way right now.
The phrase "good things come to those who wait." is not in the Bible. It is a proverb, I suppose, that has been used by Guinness Stout and Heinz ketchup. You can't rush a good thing… don't count your chickens before they hatch… What did you expect, it's McDonald's. The early bird gets the worm and then gets eaten by the eagle.
The Bible does say that "it is good to wait." And in particular, "it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:26)
But I want God's salvation now… my way… Which means that right now any of my worries and frustrations would go away… which means that evil people would be gone… that my kids would be blissful… that my family's health would be perfect… that I would have money fall into my lap every day… that there wouldn't be paperwork and deadlines (… notice they are called "dead" lines…).
I'm upset with those who seem to rule the roost and get their way…
But Psalm 37:7-9 reminds me of what Psalm 37:1-6 has already said:
"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others- it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land."
— I think I need to sit down and chill out a bit… right now… this instant I must wait. I cannot wait any longer to wait. But remember, there is no quick route to waiting. There is no shortcut to being still. Drugging ourselves into a stupor does not qualify as waiting for the Lord.
There is a right way to wait…