How very few person s there are to be found who do not know the meaning of these two first words! In a single day, it is an oft-repeated expression, "Oh, do make haste! I am in such a hurry-,I cannot wait!" Does not hurry bring worry, and cause wasted strength?
Even when we were children, do we not remember the spirit of impatience that prompted us to help the crocus out of its silver covering -the arum to unfold a little quicker-to just give a touch to the slowly developing leaf of the India rubber plant? For we longed to see them expand; but, alas! our childish fingers hurried God's work, and spoiled that which would have been beautiful had it had the whole time He intended to give it to expand in. How many children ask for the unripe fruit, and will take no denial! It looks pretty, though green; it must be nice. The fruit is gathered and given; it has no sweetness, all because it needed time and sunshine.
Never be in haste, except about two things. Haste to be saved; make haste to obey God's commands.
The angels had to hasten Lot from the land of Sodom, and all his family (Gen. 19:15-17).
David sets a good example of cheerful obedience, after having thought on his ways: "I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments." Psalm 119:60.
We have lately entered on a new year; the past may have been one of wrong hurry- of worry and unrest. And because we have yielded to this, our peace has been disturbed, our spirits fretted, and communion lost. Trials have come and gone; have we learned in any measure the truth of Isa. 28:16, "He that believeth shall not make haste"? Believing in the Lord and His power gives patience, and the questioning spirit of, Why? and, How? is lulled to rest.
There is so much said about waiting on the Lord in the Scriptures—so much to encourage patience. Wait on the Lord all the day (Psalm 25:5; 27:14). Do not do it once and then leave off, but "wait... continually" (Hos. 12:6); then, "wait thou only upon God" (Psalm 62:5). If we will do this in all trouble and difficulty, God is so gracious that He will show us His way and means of deliverance.
"He changeth not; He faileth never;
So trust in Him today - forever."
Again we are told to wait patiently. The experience of some may be, "We wait for light, but behold obscurity" (Isa. 59:9; Job 30:26). God wants to shut us up to Himself. There is not a chink of light-but wait. Every hope is gone-but wait. It is dark all around—but wait. It is true, man's extremity is God's opportunity. Tried, tempted, discouraged one, listen! "The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him" (Lam. 3:25). "Blessed are all they that wait for Him" (Isa. 30:18). What grieved the Lord so with Israel of old? "They waited not for His counsel" (Psalm 106:13). And have we not thus grieved Him also many times, not waiting for His counsel and direction?
Oh, let us learn to wait on the Lord. He may try our faith, but there is no truer promise—"They shall not be ashamed that wait for Me" (Isa. 49:23).
No hurry, no worry, can we have if we "wait on the LORD."
"We wait His time; so shall the night
Soon end in blissful day."