Phillips Brooks didn’t like to wait.
Though today we know him best as the author of the Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” in the late 1900s, Brooks was a popular clergyman in his episcopal church in Boston. Once describing himself as just “a parish priest and though not much of one,” he drew large crowds to his church, sometimes preaching not from the pulpit but from the chancel steps.
Still, like most of us, sometimes Brooks had to cope with waiting. This was evident when a friend found him anxiously and nervously pacing his office.
“What’s the matter?” the friend asked.
Brooks paused mid-stride. Turning to the visitor, he sighed. “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!”
Does this sound familiar? It may be because we frequently must wait on our spiritual journey as we anticipate an answer to a fervent prayer. We may ask for something specific, a dose of encouragement, or guidance. However, it can certainly be frustrating when we don’t get an immediate answer, especially since, as Brooks said, our time schedule is not God’s. In fact, we may even wonder if God has heard us.
If that’s the case, the psalmist reassures us that God has definitely heard our prayer. A divine response will inevitably follow—maybe not immediately, but eventually. And not only with the perfect answer but also at the right time. God will always answer according to His plans and will for us.
When that happens, along with the psalmist, we can experience release and relief as we rely on the Lord’s perfect timing.
Focus on following God as He unfolds the events in your life.
Anne Adams is a retired church staffer living in Athens, Texas, where she writes a historical column for the local newspaper. Her book Brittany, Child of Joy, tells about her mentally disabled daughter and was published in 1986 by Broadman. She has taught junior college history and has published in Christian and secular publications for forty years.