Patience in the Developing

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. CONSIDER THIS My wife and I recently came across a box in our attic that had been taped up for quite some time. In it, we made a rather surprising and dated discovery. We found several tubes containing undeveloped 35mm film canisters.1 Now there is a memory. Does anyone else remember taking pictures with your Kodak cameras? There was nothing quite like the elation of clicking that last photo, only to hear the whir of the 35mm film advancing to the end. Next was the thrill of popping the canister out, taking it to the local drug store or pharmacy, and waiting five to seven days to get the pictures developed and returned—only to find that your thumb was over the lens and half the pictures were unusable. At least, that was my experience. Of course, today it’s a completely different world. We no longer need a camera because a vast majority of us have one on our phones. We simply see the moment, take a picture with our phone, and it’s ready for immediate viewing. There is no more waiting. And the added bonus if you don’t like it, delete it and try again. Is the coloring off? No worries, you can instantly fix that as well. Look, there are certainly advantages to our technology today. There is no denying that. Yet I also can’t help but wonder if we’ve become addicted to the “instant viewing.” Maybe, just maybe, we have lost the wonder found in the “yet to be developed.” When it comes to getting the full picture of what God might be doing in our lives, we all want the God of Instant Delivery. Make the request, and it’s delivered same-day service on the doorsteps of our hearts. What I have found is that God rarely works that quickly. Perhaps there’s great beauty to be found in the waiting and watching the picture that God is developing in our stories over time. The older I get, the more I am starting to see that my faith story is more like that 35 MM film canister than a digital photo. When seasons of doubt, insecurity, and anxiety take place, I have to pause and remember that what I may not see now, in time, God will develop that picture for me. The more I wait in patience, little by little, it comes into view. The secret is this: trust him and be patient in the waiting. Having heard the incredible news that she was favored, that no word from God would ever fail, that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and through her womb, the Messiah would come, Mary simply responded with the following: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” I never cease to be challenged by Mary’s trusting, steadfast, and childlike faith. Bible commentator William Barclay said this of her response: “Mary’s submission is a very lovely thing. ‘Whatever God says, I accept.’ Mary had learned to forget the world’s commonest prayer—‘Thy will be changed’—and to pray the world’s greatest prayer—‘Thy will be done.’”2 Today, rest in the waiting. THE PRAYER  God of wonder, we pray in the Lord’s Prayer these words, “Give us this day our daily bread.”3 Meaning, we trust that today you are giving us exactly what we need—no more, no less. Help us to be content in today because you are already meeting our needs tomorrow. Amen. THE QUESTIONS What are the areas of your life still in development? Where is God saying to you, “be patient” in the waiting?