Since so many people are desperate for work, I’m grateful for my husband’s job. But his retail work with its agonizingly long hours can be ruthless on a family. Accustomed to evening meals and weekends together, my doing life almost as a single mom has seemed like a very long 4 years. One evening, I was feeling particularly tired and sighed to my father that I didn’t know how to pray anymore. After many years of praying for a breakthrough in his own life, he knew how I felt and encouraged me from God’s Word—renewing my hope and resolve.
The events making news, along with our personal struggles, can leave us feeling disillusioned. And the reminder that Jesus will come back to set things right can seem insensitive and out of touch. The apostle Peter pleads with us never to forget who God is; He made the heavens and earth by His word and He also cleansed the ancient world with a mighty flood. A similar cleaning awaits the natural world, this time by fire (2 Peter 3:5-7,10).
Although we may lose heart and grow weary with the cares of this world, Peter reminds us that God’s timekeeping is very different from ours. He wrote, “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord” (2 Peter 3:8). He isn’t being slow about His promise—He’s being patient because He doesn’t want anyone to be separated from Him for eternity. So He’s giving everyone time to repent and receive salvation through Jesus (2 Peter 3:9,15).
We long for those we love to receive salvation, but our heavenly Father desires this even more! As we wait for Jesus to return, may we join Him in spreading the good news of His saving ways. Out of love, He “does not want anyone to be destroyed” (2 Peter 3:9).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
More:
Read Isaiah 55:8-9 and be reminded that God’s way of thinking and His actions are different from ours.
Next:
Have you become disillusioned in waiting for something? Be refreshed today as you think of the faithful love of God!
Gary Shultz on November 24, 2015 at 6:36 am
Yes, I believe disillusionment is easy to come by in life. Until several year ago I used to often wonder, why, why does the Lord hold back, as recorded in Revelation, “How long oh Lord”. I travel and I’m often in hotels; I was flicking through the channels when I saw a Harvest Revival in a stadium. I watched as the invitation was given to come forward and surrender your life to Christ. I watched rivers of people come from out of the stands, some to help and some to give their lives to Christ. I needed no other evidence, the river of souls is what God is waiting for. Each day God brings His children to Himself, each day His grace stretches further into this sad world, pulling people to His grace. I’m not scolding, just a little illustration of what God is doing, and learning to be patient for the rest of the family to come. It makes it easier for me. Thanks, and if you have a Thanksgiving, enjoy.
Winn Collier on December 6, 2015 at 9:21 pm
I think this long and agonizing (or numbing) process of waiting is one of the most difficult things we have to do.