Walking and Waiting

I’ve spent too much of my life walking too fast for God.

At first glance, you might be tempted to tell me that I cannot possibly do that. Nevertheless, I am sticking to my story that I have.

What I mean by the statement above is that my tendency is to get impatient with the pace that God puts before me. I begin moving my arms a little faster just to make some commotion. My arms make my legs move faster. When I start walking faster, I tend to watch the ground I’m walking on so that I don’t trip. When I don’t trip, I begin to feel pretty good about myself and my progress. 

Then I look up and find that I’m not always on the right road. I’m not on the right road because I decided to get out in front of God—walking too fast for the pace He has set for me.

I am committed this year to not walk too fast for God. I am determined to look for His footsteps in the desert wilderness. I am going to practice the prayer of waiting and walking to His pace.

So, what about you and I? How far ahead do we have to get before we turn around and see God lovingly waiving behind us? 

He’s always there, and the truth is that God can—and often will—turn a wrong turn into His glory (Romans 8:28ff.), but I’m getting to the place where I’d just as soon wait for His footsteps in front of me. It takes longer than I’d like, but I don’t have to backtrack and the journey is so much more scenic when I don’t have to spend as much time thinking about what is next.

I’m waiting. I’m walking. In that order. How ‘bout you?