2Yahweh answered me, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it. 3For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it, because it will surely come. It won’t delay.
Whether it’s child abusers, ISIS, corrupt politicians or misogynists, there are some things that just seem to go on, often unchecked and even sometimes with no apparent justice appearing to be forthcoming. This can leave us frustrated, hopeless and cynical. And don’t get us started about the injustices in our lives or those of our families! So along with our inevitable “why?” questions we also have some “when?” ones.
“When are you going to stop this Lord? When will it end? When will there be some justice? There seems to be a lot of injustice in this world with not so much reaction from God. Habakkuk definitely felt this way. His whole world was out of control and the people around him were full of evil. So He pleaded to the God he KNEW was a God of justice to actually administer some justice! He even accused God of being silent. Perhaps you’ve felt this way? “Any chance you could do something Lord?” God’s response to Habakkuk, and us, is both calm and simple, “Wait for it; it will certainly come and it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).
Don’t mistake slowness in our timescale to indicate a lack of interest or action from God. He knows what He is doing and He WILL do the right thing at the right time. Peter reminds us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God’s patience with our world and the injustices in it do not indicate that He is pleased with the way things are or that He is not going to do anything about them. He is more upset, broken, even angry than we can imagine with the sin, injustice and mess we see around us and He will respond. But it will be in His time and for His perfect purpose. That’s what the cross was about! God’s response to injustice, hurt and pain. So our job is to trust Him, wait on Him and do all we can to live the Kingdom life and bring the change we are able to with the help of His Spirit.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me when my frustration or impatience for the Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven leads me to think you don’t care or are not there. So I will trust you. I will wait. I will work. Help me to do so with compassion for others and passion for Your name. May I live my life justly and with as much love and mercy as I can. In Jesus’ name. Amen.