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And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap, if we do not give up Galatians 6:9
There are so many times in our lives that we are in a hurry. We are living in an age when everything happens instantly. The technology available to us allows us to have answers to complicated questions immediately. We send pictures of our adventures around the world back to our family at home instantaneously. And we get products delivered to our homes within a day. We have difficulty with patience because we do not need it to meet our day-to-day needs.
When it comes to our own physical and social needs, we can usually find and obtain what we want right away. But when it comes to reaching our bigger goals, it takes more time. Someone waits for a promotion, an achievement, a milestone of progress, or their book to become a bestseller. These things are not immediate. Sometimes we find ourselves consumed with reaching that goal. We experience roller coaster emotions between success and anxiety. We have imaginary scenes play in our minds about what that promotion will feel like, how we will react when we reach that goal, or what people might say when we make it to the next phase in our progress. Along the way, we learn more about ourselves. We may not rejoice when we see others pass us by with their achievements. Perhaps we feel sadness. We experience frustration. We even experience envy.
During these times of waiting and working toward our goals, we may even be tempted to give up. Before that thought receives too much attention, perhaps we need to think about the purpose of what we are working to achieve. Are our goals reaching toward the work that God would have us do? A teacher, a nurse, a firefighter, a serviceman or woman, a doctor, a pastor, are all ways to serve others and God. What about the banker, salesman, government employee, or businessman? Are these types of work also considered service for God? They can be. There are always opportunities to reflect and act on your faith, regardless of the particular work. A problem may occur if the achievement you want becomes more important than the service you do.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men Colossians 3:23
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The patient waiting, while continuing to work as hard as ever, can be exhausting. But the continual service, with the goal in mind but not in control, is a mark of our faith. As the Apostle Paul told the early followers of Christ, we should alway pray. And we should hope and wait with patience.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer Romans 12:12
Our ultimate goal is to reach that mansion with many rooms that is prepared for us. Continuing our faith, prayer, and service will help us in that journey. We cannot see heaven, but we have faith in its existence and we wait in patience.
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience Romans 8:25
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