I’ve always liked hourglasses. Something about waiting and watching the sand trickle slowly from the upper bulb to the lower one.
I’m actually not very good at waiting though. I’m the one who often gets frustrated waiting on fast food or waiting behind the slow car in the fast lane. I’m guilty of always being in a rush to get to the next place or the next thing.
Often, this “hurry up” mentality carries into our spiritual lives. We want God to hurry up and show us our next big thing. Though the reality is, as we follow God’s will for our lives, are we ever really waiting?
I thought about this very thing when I read what Joni Eareckson Tada shared after being released last week following a 14 day stay at the hospital.
“My assignment over the last 14 days of hospitalization was straight out of Acts 20:24, “But life is worth nothing unless I use for doing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus” – the work of telling others the Good News about God’s almighty kindness and love. When nurses and aides, respiratory therapists, and doctors asked how I was doing, I could say, Jesus gives me His peace. It’s not as the world gives, so my heart’s not troubled and I’m not afraid. Then, they usually got a pep-talk from Ken Tada, a Joni book and a Joni and Friends newsletter.”
Joni adds that she is not shy to say that when life is hard, God is so very good . . .
“But we only discover how good when we get about his Acts 20:24 mission no matter where he places us. Even if it’s in a hospital for 2 weeks.”
I’m confident that my “hurry-up” mentality would have taken me over had I been in the hospital for two weeks. I would not have waited patiently for God to get me out and in my short-sightedness, I’d only be focused on asking Him to show me the next thing.
What a great reminder Joni provides that we are called not to focus on the question of waiting but instead, called to focus on Him and the reality that He rarely does things according to our timeframe . . . thankfully. And, more importantly, that no matter what our circumstances, we need to carry out His Acts 20:24 mission now because His timing is perfect.
Thank you for your continued prayers for Joni – here’s an excerpt from a recent blog post:
It’s been quite a journey since March 27th when Ken rushed me to ER. Basically, over the many years, my chronic quadriplegia has put a strain on my heart and lungs. The good news is, doctors believe that with medication and with a more efficient way of breathing, my condition can be reversed.
(Stay current on Joni’s journey by following her blog.)
