Though It Linger

Though it linger, wait for it – Certainly you remember your birthday and the excitement that day held for most of us. Fortunately, most of us have even greater memories of nights which seemed to drag on forever as we waited to see what Christmas morning would bring. I remember one year wishing we could skip through all the days so that it would be Christmas again more quickly. My request was met with a “Be careful, or you’ll wish your whole life away” by my grandmother’s husband, Gus. However, at that point I didn’t seem to care. A few days of life would be worth wasting to get to Christmas again.


We also have times of anxiety, times we wish something was over. These might be times of grief, loneliness, financial hardship, or spiritual trial. The possibilities for “wishing portions of our life away” are enormous!

The bold words that begin this short essay are from Habakkuk. The prophet is bemoaning the prevalence of evil and how it seems to take over everything and be everywhere. In the first chapter of the book he cries out, "Why do you make me look at injustice!? Why do I have to even look at it God? Why?"

However, we know there are some things worth waiting for, like birthdays, Christmas, and REALLY good vacations. But, most of all – God’s justice. We have all experienced some form of injustice and unfairness in this life. We have suffered through trying times, events, people, and situations. In some cases, our involvement at all seemed an injustice. This fight is between these two people over here, why do I have to listen to, much less be a part of it. It just doesn’t seem to make sense. When will our suffering stop, O Lord?

Though it linger, wait for it – When God’s justice, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion seem miles and miles away – wait for it. When the Scriptural encouragement about not being tested beyond what we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13) seems like a cruel joke, and the time of deliverance is non-existent – wait for it. When you want to take the advice Job’s wife gave to him during his trials and “Curse God and die!” rather than earnestly pray for it all to make sense by some future day – wait for it. Waiting is hard. It does not come easy for us. Isaiah encourages us differently – Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him! Amen!



Pastor Craig