I want what I want and I want it now!

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/2pe.3.9.ESV

I don’t like waiting.  I don’t like meetings and I really don’t care about details.  I am a big picture person.  I think the quickest way between two points is a straight line.  When someone makes a decision to do something, i say ‘let’s do it!”.  I go full steam ahead.  I believe this is a good quality to have.  I also believe this is a bad quality to have.  I often say to my clients “our best assets are our greatest curses”.  This quality leaves me falling on my face a lot, causes undue harm on relationships and also can cause a lot of backtracking and using a lot of unnecessary resources.  The flip side of this trait is analyzing all the problems and trying to come up with solutions to any foreseeable problem that could arise, no matter how remote the idea.  This can lead to never acting on the idea.  This is not good either because it leaves people frustrated and unfulfilled and nothing gets accomplished.  I think the enemy is just as happy with either of these things happening and it leads to division because we don’t value the gifts in each other.  The body is used to work together not individually. 

In our key scripture verse, Peter was talking to the early church who were mostly Jewish converts.  They were used to the oppressiveness of the Levitical law and the judgement and condemnation of leaders and a religious system that they would never be able to succeed in.  They also were used to being viewed as ‘less than’ in their societies they lived in.  They were persecuted and oppressed for their religious beliefs.  They believed the coming Messiah would bring instant comfort and freedom.  When they came to believe that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, (even after they persecuted and killed him) they believed in any moment he would come and remove them from their oppression and persecution.  They were growing weary in the waiting.  They were impatient and wanted their comfort, they were not thinking about their neighbor or the many generations to come.  They wanted Jesus to return now, just as he promised.  

When I am honest, I too, can be selfish and self centered.  I can become frustrated that God has not removed me from my problems or has not fulfilled a promise that is longing in my heart; that I know is directly from God.  I struggle to keep focused and doing the next right thing until the promise is fulfilled.  I have to admit that sometimes I try to hurry God along or tell him how he could do it just so we can get from point A to point B.  

I have discovered something that has worked for me so that I do not stay in my frustration and angst.  Notice I say ‘stay’ because I haven’t figured out how not to become frustrated with waiting.  I am still cultivating the seed of patience in my life.  But here is what I do and maybe it can help you too.

1. I notice what I am feeling.  I allow myself the opportunity to feel frustrated.  I don’t deny my feeling.  I acknowledge it.  
2. I take a deep breath and I pray.  Lord this is hard, I want what I want when I want it.  I know you have my best life already planned for me (Psalm 139:16, Jeremiah 29:11) I trust you completely.
3. I remember.  I remember all the times in my life that his ways were higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9) and how he worked everything out for my good (Romans 8:28) and even turned what was meant to destroy me into something magnificent to help not only me but others (Genesis 50:20, 2 Corinthians 1:4).
4. I humble myself.  I remember it isn’t about me and I surrender, once again, and put myself in my rightful place- a child, a child of the King of Kings, but a child none the less.  One who will submit to authority, knowing that He will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and he will finish what he started in my life (Philippians 1:6).

I know that some things need more than a four step process to get through. I do not want this post to be a substitution for good sound counseling. There are many professional counselors through the https://AACC.net website And you can also go to https://psychologytoday.com for a listing of professional counselors in your area. Word of mouth is also a great way to find professional help so ask someone you trust who they might recommend.