Okay, waiting again?

Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change. ( Peter 3:9)

How do you measure lateness? I remember being all ready to have my daughter walk down the aisle and realizing the groom and his best man were far from ready. I didn't realize his interpretation of 'on time' was different from mine. We waited until he was, obviously - because he is a great guy and he makes my daughter happy! I had to learn to 'chill' a bit because when we said the wedding would be at 'x' time, I just expected it would be at 'x' time. "X" can be one thing to us and quite another thing to God, as well. If you have ever had to 'wait on his timing', you realize quickly that our 'mis-matched' timing is kind of evident. The good news is that God is never late - we are just early!

I almost missed it the first time I read through this passage, but what is very apparent to me now is that God is oftentimes 'holding back' - restraining himself - not because he doesn't want to answer our prayers, but because we aren't quite ready yet. Readiness is measured a bunch of different ways, but the most obvious is that when we are 'ready' we are completely prepared. How 'complete' is your preparation for whatever it is you have been asking God to reveal or do in your life? Chances are you may not be as 'completely prepared' as you think. Being ready also means we are completely equipped - adjusted so as to receive. Have you ever taken delivery on something you weren't quite ready to receive? I know how stressful it is to have a delivery driver show up early and me still cleaning the space where the new appliance or furnishing will be put. You just don't feel good about it.

God is giving us time and space. Time to adjust and prepare. Space to get ourselves into a position to receive. If you have experienced a lengthy prep time for receiving from God, you know there is a great deal of anticipation that occurs. Your awareness of his every movement is somehow heightened and you find you are kind of prepared through the building of your emotional and spiritual anticipation. Some of the wait may just be because we aren't accessible yet. Readiness means we have made a way for him to enter. I guess we all have a different way of getting ready, but if you are like me, you have a routine of sorts. The issue is that God doesn't always adhere to our routine. Sometimes he gets us into the place where our routine way of connecting with him is challenged a little. 

Next time you find your timing is a bit different from what God's timing may be, contemplate the time and space he is giving you. Instead of complaining about him being late, consider what it is you need to do to be ready - anticipating, prepared, and in the perfect position to receive all he is about to do or bring into your life. Just waiting....