Groaning

I'm rushing around, tying shoelaces, zipping up coats, frantically searching for that one missing glove all the while urging my children to HURRY UP because we are late. We zip out of the driveway, lurching to a stop at the red sign. Hitting the accelerator, I zoom around the corner, ignore the warning yellow light, and instead screech to a halt at the glaring red light. Zoom ahead, screech to a halt. Zip forward, slam on the brakes.

This describes how I often go through life. I want to reach the destination and the pacing of the journey never seems fast enough. The yellows and reds along the way, I would prefer to avoid. I lack a sense of appropriate pacing.



My heart's desire is to see personal growth in my life. I don't want immediate gratification, I want immediate sanctification! I want to be patient, and I WANT IT NOW!!!

"He [God] is very patient with us when we are trying to be patient with Him."

~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

While I'm tapping my toe, impatiently unable to sit still, God is watching patiently. He's working in my life, though it sometimes seems imperceptible to me. He's patient with my failures and snail like growth. I can't wait for the day when my unredeemed body no longer hinders my reborn spirit.

I think Paul may have sympathized with my thoughts.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

I'm impatient for God to complete His work on this earth - to make me holy, to redeem my body, to redeem this world, to make it all whole again. But, He is patiently waiting for His children to enter into His flock before the end comes.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Driving around busy streets with only my destination in mind is dangerous. There are other people on the roads too, with their own destinations to reach. God's working in my life, but He's working in other places as well and it's not all about me and my goals. Perhaps I ought to slow down long enough to notice the single mom stalled on the side of the road or the driver who keeps turning right in confusion.
There are people out there who are desperately lost and God is patiently waiting.

The key to contentment during this period of groaning is Abiding Under the circumstances God has for each one of us (you really might want to read that other post because it has a more thorough explanation of patience). It's about living with hope, and abiding in His patience, while we wait for complete deliverance.



Visit Bonnie for more thoughts on this quote.