I truly believe that God is more willing to give than we are to persist.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” — Luke 11:13
Too often, I think we focus more on the time that’s gone by rather than on the time that’s coming.
We sometimes have a tendency to see how long something is taking rather than seeing the reward of perseverance.
Rather than surrender to Him, we surrender to the waiting.
The length of time captivates us more than the character and nature of God, and as a result, we fall prey to it.
When it comes to waiting on the promises of God, I sometimes think we have the propensity to believe deep within ourselves, perhaps inadvertently, that, “It’s just not working.”
A promise, however, isn’t something that works.
A promise is something that’s kept by the one who made it and received by the one waiting for it.
He who promised is faithful, Hebrews 10:23 reminds us.
Unfortunately, we aren’t always as faithful in waiting.
In other words, what we often fail to receive isn’t His fault.
It’s ours.
When answering one of His disciples humble request about learning how to pray, Jesus uses a parable about a man who goes to his friend at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread to feed his unexpected guest.
Jesus goes out of His way to point out that it’s not because of their friendship that the friend from within his home gets up and gives this man what he’s asking for.
Rather, it’s because of the man’s persistence that the friend gives the man as much as he needs (see Luke 11:8).
This is something I believe God is wanting to draw our attention to once again.
It’s not always friendship that moves the hand of God.
Sometimes it’s persistence.
Sometimes it’s not taking ‘No’ for answer.
Tragically, as I said earlier, I believe this is where we fail.
The ball is often dropped when it comes to enduring to the end.
Rather than looking to what’s ahead, we look back.
Instead of getting lost in the fact that God longs to give the Holy Spirit to those that ask, we wonder, “How much longer is this going to take?”
Dear reader, I believe God wants to correct our gaze.
I believe He wants to recalibrate our focus.
Understand it’s not about the time that’s gone by.
It’s about the time that’s coming.
Every day that passes is one day closer to receiving more of the Holy Spirit.
He is our greatest need.
Every moment is an opportunity to deepen your surrender to Him.
Please don’t forget that the waiting is on purpose.
The waiting empties us of ourselves and causes to become dependent upon the One who fulfills His promises.
Let the waiting do its work while you do yours in persisting.
“…how much more…”
Let those three rewards be what reminds you of God’s sincere desire to give you what you need in this hour and may they be the catalyst to your perseverance.
- Brian Connolly, Faith Like Birds
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