Having to wait for something you want is difficult. Indeed we may say that impatience is a normal human trait. Few people are born patient. We often scold our children for impatience; they seem to want everything now - immediately! So we keep telling them to wait. But the truth is we adults are as impatient as our children. We have to develop patience. Patience or 'long-suffering' is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is a gift from Elohim.

Here are a few examples of waiting:

• Children: For food, presents, outings.
• Adults: For work, marriage, offspring.
• Nations: For independence.
• The Church: For Messiah's return and the Kingdom of Elohim.
• Holy Angels: For the renewal of the entire universe and the final overthrow of Satan.
• The Messiah: For the harvest of human souls - the fruit of His sacrifice.
  

  James 5:7

  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8: Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. This text tells of YAHUSHUA the Messiah, who is also patiently waiting for His Father to give the spiritual rain which will ripen the redeemed human crop.

• YaHuWaH : No doubt the Most High is also waiting for just the right time to send the latter rain. In other words He is waiting for our spiritual maturity; for His people to be at that point in history when the "latter rain" will do us most good.

Even though YaHuWaH the Almighty and His only begotten Son YAHUSHUA are waiting for the maturity of the redeemed crop, they know when that time will be. Indeed the Father has already appointed the day when He will judge the world by YAHUSHUA the Messiah. So He patiently awaits His appointed time. Many texts in scripture tell of appointed times. Here are a few examples:

It is important to develop a correct attitude while waiting. We have a choice of various reactions.

Negative Attitudes: We can complain and say YaHuWaH doesn't exist. Or that He is unable to do what He has promised. Or that He is too slow or doesn't care about the human race.

Positive Attitudes: Or we can wait, trusting that everything YaHuWaH does has a divine purpose and an appointed time. The following advice appears many times in scripture: "Wait I say on the Lord."

Consider the experiences of these Bible characters. Notice how all of them waited for their divine appointments. They didn't impatiently accuse YaHuWaH of neglect or a lack of love. Compare your problems with theirs and note how they reacted to the knowledge that divine actions all have their appointed times.

Oh with what longing the children of faith wait for the day of salvation. Consider this heart-cry. It could well be voiced by a million burdened souls.

Waiting for an appointment can be a test of faith. Sometimes YaHuWaH appears to keep us waiting, not with the intention of making things awkward, but for a greater glory and to strengthen our faith. Consider this experience about the resurrection of Lazarus.

YAHUSHUA appeared to have wasted two days. That is what Mary and Martha thought. But in actual fact he had a very good reason for delaying his visit. Look it up in verses 15-42. Notice how the delay laid the ground for an even more magnificent result. Would Lazarus rather have been healed two days earlier, or been resurrected later? The answer is obvious. A resurrection from death is infinitely more glorious than a healing. The Savior kept them waiting for that which was better.

The Most High will always richly reward those who patiently wait for Him.

You may often be called upon to wait for something you desperately want, or think you need or even deserve. You may often be tempted to think YaHuWaH doesn't love or care about you enough to answer your prayers. You may even at this moment be at your wits end and ready to give up the faith. Hold it! Do not despair. Wait I say on YAHUSHUA. Remember that you are a child of YaHuWaH, created in His image to live for eternity with Him in the new universe. That is a fact. So be patient and have faith in YaHuWaH. He will most certainly come to your rescue - in His time! The Almighty loves you infinitely more than any of your relatives do; and He has a plan for you in His work and in His Kingdom. Wait upon Him in prayer and faith. He will answer - in His time!