How long is too long?

So, people joke around all the time saying things like "Don't pray for patience or the Lord will have you waiting on everything."   That's kinda funny, but ultimately if we have the Spirit of God eventually we better be showing some patience or what we're really saying is that we don't have the Spirit of God.

This morning I was doing a little blog reading and I ran across one that mentioned a lady from Luke Chapter 13.  It's the lady that had a disabling disease that prevented her from being able to stand upright for 18 years.  18 years?  Can you imagine staring at the ground having to shuffle your feet to move; getting neck strain in order to see where you're going for 18 years?  But, thankfully, one day the Master called her to himself and he released her from her affliction.

That also reminds me of the story of the guy described as an invalid that laid by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years.  When Jesus saw him, he asked the question, "Do you want to be healed?"  And this poor fellow couldn't even offer a straight answer.  He started blaming others for his problem.  If only he had somebody put him in the pool.  Jesus was matter of fact and didn't have time for all of this hemming and hawing.  His immediate command to the man was to "Pick up your bed and walk."  So, we see the opposite side of patience where this man had stopped seeking change.  He had all but given up on being better.

And, last, it reminds me of Abraham who waited 25 long years to see the promise of the true son.  At age 75, God had called Abraham out and sent him to a land making him the promise that his offspring would be as the stars of the sky and the sand along the sea.  At 90, Abraham and God met and they talked about Abraham (or Abram at the time) and how he went childless still.  Here he was 15 years into this relationship with God and what God had promised had not happened yet.  But, the bible says that Abraham "believed God".   It was even 10 more years before Isaac was born, but Abraham believed God and did not waiver in his trust.


And, that's the Word for the day.  Trust God.  Be patient because he is not slack concerning his promises.  So, how long is too long?  As long as you know that God is good for it.  Don't let the Satan bind you into thinking that God won't come through.   There is no such thing as too long because even if you don't see what you're looking for on this side of heaven; it's still coming if you are his.