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Growth cannot be forced; it unfolds in God’s timing.
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 17:14)
SOMETHING TO PONDER
One of my favorite parts about being an author is the variety of tasks. Every day brings something new, and I’m never bored. From writing manuscripts to freelance articles or being on podcasts, I love my job. One thing I don’t love, however, is the slowness of the industry. And if you know anything about me, you know my aversion to slowness.
Since childhood, I’ve been speedy. I was always the first to finish something, the fastest at a race, or the quickest to complete a task. I didn’t know it then, but looking back, this behavior bred deep roots for what I now know is high-functioning anxiety.
Funny enough, God’s given me a career that includes a lot of speedy and slow seasons. While I like the speedy ones more than the patiently endured ones, I’ve learned this: Both are important, and both help us grow. Why? Because true, everlasting, and eternal growth can’t be forced. It unfolds in God’s timing and only when He says that the time is right.
Psalm 17:14 says it this way: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
The best and worst part about waiting is that God wouldn’t have us do it unless it was beneficial and the best practice for us to do. God is good. He knows exactly what we need when we need it. This doesn’t make the waiting any easier, but it does remind us that, as Psalm 17:14 notes, we can take heart and be strong while we do.
When I’m tempted to rush, two practices help me slow down:
- Physically slowing down. Especially when we’re anxious, we want to go, go, go. This flips a “fight or flight” switch in our nervous systems, and while it can be helpful from time to time, constantly living in this state of being isn’t healthy for anyone. Instead, I force myself to sit in silence for 5 minutes. I let myself feel. Cry. Be uncomfortable. But doing this reminds me to wait on the Lord and strengthen myself in Him.
- Recalling God’s faithfulness. Because I’m a person who likes to be busy, I have to intentionally remind myself that God works in His own time and space parameters that are best for me, and I probably won’t understand them. When I’m tempted to rush or take matters into my hands, I must intentionally remind myself that God is in control and just as He was faithful then, He will be faithful now.