The Faith Requirement

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout.

Luke 2:25, HCSB

TOO OFTEN WE WANT GOD’S RESOURCES, but we don’t want His timing. We want His presence, but we don’t want His patience. We are amateurs at waiting, yet we must wait. God is working. Waiting means we give God the benefit of the doubt and trust that He knows what He’s doing.

Simeon must have wondered whether God would be true to His word. He had been promised to see the Messiah, but he was running out of years. His life was at the eleventh hour. God must have reminded him: “Your job is to trust . . . to wait . . . to accept My timing. That is all. You keep your heart right; I’ll keep My promise.”

Maybe you’re at a point in your life when you wonder whether God will come through. Maybe you are about to give up hope that He will show up. Maybe you feel that time is passing you by. Maybe you want to run ahead of God. Maybe you want to give up on God.

The story of Simeon teaches us that God proves Himself faithful even when it seems as if nothing is happening. His timing is perfect. Our part is to trust—a confident, disciplined, patient waiting for His help and deliverance. God seeks to reveal Himself to us. He wants to meet us. And He will, but it will be on His timetable and in His way. So relax and trust, rather than worry and fret.

BOTTOM LINE

Are you waiting on God or are you running ahead of Him? He can be trusted. He is faithful. He will come through. Choose to wait patiently.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 9:10