How Long?

As Christians I feel like we are frequently asking the question how long. How long must wait? How long must I pray? How long must I endure this hardship or suffering? In all honesty, I know that I feel more secure when I know how long something will last. The pounding pain of a headache it tolerable if I know it will only last 30 minutes until my tylenol kicks in. But that's not the way God works; that's not the way the world works. In reality we are always left wondering why or how long - but it is this wondering that strengthens our faith in God. If we already knew when everything was going to happen how could we have faith and depend fully on God to see us through?

Have you ever noticed that God has a funny was of bringing everything together at once? Just after starting the first paragraph of this blog post I began to read Elisabeth Elliot's "The Mark of a Man." which states (on the second page of the introduction): "Faith has to be exercised in the midst of ordinary, down-to-earth living. Ordinary living includes trouble. When things are going as we would like, faith doesn't often seem necessary. It's when things get messed up that we look around for answers or for help."

Perhaps if we, as people, focused less on the time and more on the what we wouldn't worry as much about that which we cannot control. By focusing on the "what" I simply mean to pay more attention to what is happening to us - yes I am enduring this hardship, but look at the wonderful things God is doing in my life through it. Or if you are still too deep in to see the silver lining, then at least remember that God said He works all things for the good of those who love Him. So if you love God, He is working everything out for your good - not your happiness, but your good, and trust me in the long run is much better since happiness is a mere fleeting feeling that changes with the wind.

Better late then never - 4th of July fireworks: