Getting tired. Getting bored. Getting uneasy. Tension is growing. Anxiety has our hearts stirred. You can't wait to go on vacation but you’re uncertain of how to do it. How to go about it safely.
Does any of this describe your feelings right now?
All this frustration is nothing new.
? Think of how frustrated Jesus must have gotten at times as people refused to accept what He was saying.
? Think about how frustrated Noah was as people made fun of him.
? How frustrated do you think Job was as everyone was sure that he HAD to have done something wrong and deserved all of this agony and distress.
? What about Hosea’s frustration? Hosea had to be frustrated with his wife who cheated on him and gave up his love to become a prostitute.
? And then there’s Moses. Moses had to be frustrated with each rejection from Pharaoh to let God's people go despite all of the obvious lessons from God.
? Now imagine how frustrated and saddened God must have been when Adam and Eve were blatantly disobedient to God's rule.
I wonder how frustrated God gets with us each time we sin in our acts, our speech, and even our thoughts.
You see, frustration is nothing new. But I want you to notice something. Every one of these episodes that I have just described all turned out for the good because God had a plan in it all.
I can tell you that God has a plan in all this as well.
You say you don't care for this plan no matter whose plan it is? Let's go back to the biblical stories once again.
? Do you think that Jesus enjoyed the plan that God had for him to give His life for us?
? Do you think that Noah enjoyed being heckled for all of those years as he built the ark in obedience to God's design?
? Do you think that Job enjoyed being covered in sores and losing most everything that he had?
? Do you think that Hosea wasn't saddened about his wife?
? Do you think that Moses liked having to go through all that he did to follow God's instructions?
? Do you think that God was pleased with Adam and Eve committing the original sin and causing the downfall of man?
You see the Bible says, "God's plan operates by faith." We must remember that it is our faith in God that will bring the victory. So, we patiently wait for God's plan to come about.
Most of us are longing to gather together again for worship. But we don't want to make a move too quickly. We want to make sure that we can ALL come together safely. So, we are called to be patient as we wait upon God.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Rom. 12:12, "Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer."
So, all this is nothing more than a reminder that God has not left our side in any of this. His love for you is just as strong as it ever was. His plan is in place as it always is. So, let's be patient and wait on God and through faith in him know that this too shall come to pass.
We are watching the guidelines closely from our state and city government and health authorities and as soon as we feel that we can ALL gather together safely and still be able to conform to the set guidelines, we will let everyone know. That day is coming. And we all hope it is soon.
