Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice; but for those who love, time is not. —Henry van Dyke, Music and Other Poems
One of our parenting challenges was recognizing when to get involved and when to stand back. Sometimes Libby or I would overhear conversations or watch some bully-type behavior and we’d want to intervene, proclaiming, “Hey, you eight-year-old punk! You can’t talk to my kid like that!”
Thankfully we refrained, and no young people left our home traumatized. Over time our kids grew up and selected encouraging friends. Seeing them choose well was incredibly rewarding. But waiting for growth when we wanted to intervene? That was hard.
Jesus could stop suffering. He could intervene, but instead He waits. Why? Why does He wait if He’s in charge and could stop this mess?
“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (Hebrews 1:13)
“You crowned him with glory and honor and you put everything under his feet. In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him yet. At present, we do not see everything subject to him.” (Hebrews 2:7b-8)
We’d be missing out if we didn’t consider how difficult the wait must be for God. His love for us is so great that I wonder just how often He wants to come down and say, “Hey, you punk! I see what you’re doing to my kid!” But He doesn’t. Because that ‘punk’ is His child too and He loves him as well. And He’s waiting for his sake.
Are you able to trust God with the “wait”? Are you able to say, “I know You love me even though You aren’t showing up right now?” The truth is this: One day it will all be made right, but we haven’t arrived at that day—yet. Until we do, we trust. And as He waits, something incredible is happening: those He is waiting for are seeing His love.
Jesus, how I’d love to see the world as You do—not as a single day, but as all the days leading toward one great day of restoration. Until then, we wait. Amen.