“… but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

One of my guilty pleasures is fast food. Sometimes I just can’t resist those salty, golden French fries. On days when I decide to treat myself, I will drive out of my way to swing into one of my favorite fast food locations to place my much anticipated order.

Occasionally when this happens, the line at the drive through window will be wrapped halfway around the building causing my heart to sink – this is supposed to be “fast food,” right?! However, almost always I put my car in line which extends it even farther.

To me, it is worth the wait.

What else is worth the wait? Waiting in a mob of crazed shoppers on Black Friday to get a great deal on the latest technology. Waiting for a seat at my favorite restaurant; Waiting on a call from a friend to schedule a get together or waiting to see a doctor when I don’t feel well. These are all well worth the wait to me. 

Your own personal “worth the wait” list may be longer or shorter depending on your tolerance and patience. Although in this fast-paced, instant gratification world I believe most people aren’t willing to wait on much – because we usually don’t have to. 

As I look back over my “worth the wait” list, I realize most of the things on my list are silly or insignificant. Yet to increase my personal happiness, I would most surely wait on each and every one of them. 

My list makes me question – I am willing to wait for French fries but am I willing to wait for the Lord?

To that I have to answer – not always.

I ask God for answers. I pray for outcomes. But, I get impatient. I want God to operate on my timeline. I am inclined to believe He isn’t listening to me when I don’t see a result in what I consider a reasonable amount of time. I catch myself asking: Aren’t you listening God? Don’t you care, Lord?

Why is it I am so patient waiting 6 cars back to place an order for food but I am so impatient with God?

The psalmist wrote in chapter 40 verse 1, “I waited patiently on the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”

It is all about patience.

You would think by now I would realize God is worth the wait. As frustrating as it may be, sometimes the wait is part of the answer. The wait can prepare us for the outcome. For better or for worse, His answer is perfect with perfect timing. The outcome He orchestrates is part of the bigger picture called life.

God is worth the wait. 

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”      Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

Sometimes the answer to our prayers is bold and clear and at other times it is quiet, subtle. Regardless – yes – God’s answer is worth the wait.

So what in your life is worth the wait? Catching the perfect fish? A long awaited vacation? 

How do those things compare to how God works in your life? Most likely, you will find those things pale in comparison to what God is doing in you and through you over time.

The next time you drive up to make your requests known to God and you find  you have to pull over and wait because the answer does not come, remember (before you get frustrated): Wait for the Lord. God is worth the wait!

“I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.”  Lamentations 3:24 (NIV)