Finding it Hard to Wait

Oh, I had such a frustrating day. I had made an important phone call first thing in the morning, and the conversation ended that someone would ring me that day with the solution.

So, all day I waited for that phone call. Every time the phone would ring or send me a message I was onto it because it could be the one I was waiting for.

As I was doing housework, the phone came with me.

Out to empty the bins the phone came along for the ride.

This phone call was very important.

When members of my family would ring me about something or just to ask how I was or talk, I started with “I’m waiting for an important phone call so if it comes up while I am speaking to you, I’ll need to answer it…”

It never came. It was so frustrating. I feel like I wasted a whole day.

So, as I went to bed that night I knew first thing in the morning I would need to re-ring the department I had been speaking with to get an answer.

I reflected upon how fixated I was on waiting for this answer.

Now it was important. Something I could not avoid. I needed an answer.

Don’t you hate waiting?

Often you get so frustrated in the waiting that you give up. Unless it is that important.

The story that Jesus shared about the10 maidens waiting for the bridegroom came to mind.  This is found in the book of Matthew.

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids^[a] took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids^[c] got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids^[d] came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13 NRSV

It seemed like they had been waiting for such a long time that 5 of them had let the oil from their lamps run dry. They had given up. Too long to wait. He’s not coming. It’s all a myth. Possible thoughts going through their heads?

The 5 virgins who had waited with their lamps full of oil were rewarded when the bridegroom came. They waited for such a long time because the bridegroom was important to them. The second coming of Our Lord was so important to them. He was so important to them that they kept the lamps full of oil – their lives full of the Holy Spirit. They (like me with the phone) were fixated on being ready for that important time and more than just an answer to a question, they were waiting for when the Lord  would return.

I can see because of the importance of the Lord in these maidens’ lives, they would have carried their lamps to the marketplace with them, to the bin, while they did their chores. All the time waiting upon the Lord’s return.

My heart hoped that I would be like the 5 who waited for Him.

I hope my life portrays, and continues to portray, that I do my best in waiting for the Lord to come again. Then I wait upon His Mercy and Grace to give me the strength and courage to wait. To invite the Holy Spirit to fill me up.

And yes, I finally did get that answer to my problem the next morning.

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Have you had a similar experience where you were waiting for an answer?

How difficult do you find waiting?

What are some the ways that you trust in God while you are waiting for answers?