The Problem Of Waiting In An ‘ASAP’ World

Everyone seems to be in such a hurry. It has been that way for a long time. It might have started with the Industrial Revolution, when much of the world began to shift from agrarian societies. When you are growing crops, farmers know you cannot rush the process. But when products are manufactured, such as cars, clothing, or electronic components, the pace of life and work accelerates significantly.

Technology obviously has had the added effect of making life seem instantaneous. We receive emails, messages and social media posts as quickly as a hiccup. Even if we stay at home, we can have an online face-to-face meeting with bosses and employees using various conferencing tools.

So, we find ourselves living in an ASAP – As Soon As Possible – world in which needs and demands are responded to immediately. The problem is, in real life not all challenges can be resolved ‘right now.’ A client might delay making an important decision. The long-awaited promotion might be slow in coming. A serious illness might require a longer recovery than expected. ‘As soon as possible’ can take a long time.

This can sometimes be especially true for those who strive to integrate our faith into everything we do, including our work. Having circumstances beyond our control and with no choice but to trust God to provide us with wisdom and direction, we can learn the meaning of a key word: WAIT.

For action-oriented individuals, their motto might be, “Don’t just stand there – do something!” But as we read passages like Psalm 37, we discover that is not always God’s plan. The psalm does open with things to do: 

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord…” (Psalm 37:3-5).

Sounds good, right? We think to ourselves, ‘I can do that!’ But then we read words that make us step on the brakes: “Be stillbefore the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” (Psalm 37:7). As if for good measure, verse 34 in the same psalm tells us, “Wait for the Lord and keep His way….” Often, this is not what we want to hear. I can recall numerous times during my career when I prayed seeking God’s guidance on a variety of concerns. But often His answer was, “Wait.” Here are some passages I found helpful:

Focusing on God. Sometimes the Lord’s purpose in making us wait is to reinforce the truth that He is sovereign – He is in control, and we are not, and He can be trusted. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). 

Getting needed rest. Sometimes, whether recovering from illness or reeling from a professional setback, we need time to regroup, be restored, “…those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). 

Patiently awaiting the outcome. When confident that we are doing what God has called us to do, we can trust Him with the results, no matter how long it takes for them to be realized, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).