Don't Mistake Patience For Forgetfulness

Don't Mistake Patience For Forgetfulness

Acts 13:23 "From this man's [David's] descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised." Thoughts for Today: My daughter Amanda really wants to go to Disneyland. It's not like she has never gone before (last year we bought season passes and probably went 20 times); we just haven't gone recently (in the last six months). But that doesn't stop her from asking and saying things like, "We NEVER get to go to Disneyland." This is the joy of parenting at it's finest. I wonder if God doesn't feel that way sometimes - disappointed that we are borderline ungrateful for all He has done for us, not trusting in His continuing "goodness," and completely impatient (wanting things only our way and on our time schedule). Part of the reason we aren't going to Disneyland any time soon is because we are teaching Amanda a lesson about patience and not taking privileges for granted. One day, when we feel she has understood what patience is, we will go to Disneyland. Her mother and I promised we would take her, we just didn't tell her when. What if one day while doing errands we just unexpectedly drove to Disneyland? Amanda is aware of this possibility and knows the way, so every time we take the same set of freeways she asks, "Are we going to Disneyland today?" My answer, "You'll just have to wait until we get where we're going to know," can be tortuous for a six year old. But that was the way it was for the Jews as well as they watched the bloodline of David for hundreds of years, waiting for their king and redeemer, the promised Savior of Israel. You can only imagine how many false starts they had over the years thinking, "This time we're right, this one has to be the Messiah," only to be disappointed once again. To the point they probably thought, "God has forgotten His promise, we'll never get our Savior!" But God always makes good on His promises, just not always when or how we expect. The lesson being: don't mistake God's patience or timing for forgetfulness or unfaithfulness. Questions to Ponder: What promise of God's you are you eagerly anticipating? The one you have looked for in every event, thinking "This one must be it." Have you become disillusioned? Impatient? Perhaps disgruntled, saying "God is never going to answer my prayer and make good on His promise." Do you find yourself sounding like a six year old who needs to learn patience? What does mature faithfulness sound like in times like these? What should you be thinking? What should you be doing?