2 Peter 3:8-10
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:8-10 (NIV)
Plans. We all have them. Some of those plans we have complete control over, while others take someone or something else to fall into place before we can take the next step. Both come with their own frustrations.
Try as we might, we just don’t get to everything we have planned sometimes or at least we are forced to rearrange our priorities. For me in this moment, I have planned to paint my garage since we bought our house, and that was two years ago. It is completely within my control to set some time aside to get it done, but it just hasn’t been the highest priority. Some days, that’s frustrating, and other days it’s easy to recognize that as a want rather than a must get done. It’s within my control, but still not done.
When what is in our control can frustrate us, it’s understandable how much more frustrating things outside of our control can seem. We feel ourselves hoping and praying for that promotion at work to come open, or that game to go our team’s way, or a myriad of other things. We know we want it, and maybe if we work hard enough it will come our way. Sometimes, though, it just seems like it will never come.
This passage reminds me of all those sentiments. The idea of God’s time, and how a day and a thousand years can be the same. God and slowness as we know it are just not the same thing. It’s easy to get frustrated when we think we’re doing things right (and we probably are) but what we want still doesn’t come our way as fast as we want it to. God will get us what we need because he wants all of us to know salvation. Our timeline and his just aren’t the same. So, we wait for the thief in the night. Always prepared.
Questions for Reflection:
- Priorities shift yearly, monthly, sometimes daily. Where do you find your priorities in this moment?
- What things are you waiting on that you can control that could help ease stress or give you a much needed win?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive us as we attempt to understand your timelines for us. Too often, we project ourselves and our wills onto you. Help us to understand what we can control and give us the strength to make changes where and when necessary. When things are not under our control, grant us patience. Amen.
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