Lamentations 3

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

Instant gratification. That is a phrase that has been kicking around in my head today. In my American mind the desire to want things now, quickly and as soon as possible. Give me results or I will think of it as a failure. This mindset is widespread. It is evident in the way I live and in the products around me. I choose to drive rather than walk forty minutes, though a walk could be beneficial. I can buy an assortment of TV dinners to put into my microwave, rather than cook my own meal. There is fast food and pornography. The culture of the U.S. wants what it wants when it wants it.

Does this do harm to my life? I think it has an effect overall, at least, and in some places is harmful. Specifically in my walk with God. I pray and that God will answer me now is my wish. What happens though, when the prayer is not answered as soon as possible? When I do not feel closer to God today, as opposed to yesterday. Am I willing to wait, heaven forbid, two weeks? A year? Until after I am dead? (Though at that point I suppose I will not be waiting anymore. But you see the point.) If growth is not immediate, if prayers are not answered quickly will I then think that God does not answer my prayers or work in my life? I surely hope not.
At lunch today a man was talking about how sometimes it took years of prayer for some people in the Bible to see their prayers come to fruition. Am I capable of waiting? At age forty Moses thought he was ready to lead the Hebrew people but it was only after forty more years tending sheep in the dessert that God called to him from the burning bush.

What shall I do then? Try, I suppose. Learn what it means to wait on the Lord. What does that look like? I still don't know for sure.

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.