A few thoughts on patience
"After a long time" in 1 Kings 18
I used to read 1 Kings 18 and focus on all the incredible things Elijah did. He was brazen and ready to do mighty things for God — things I wanted in my life!
Yet, this morning I was struck by the four little words at the beginning of the chapter: “After a long time.” In my early adulthood, I was ready to go, go, go. But I now understand that the Lord is much more patient than I am.
Yesterday, I was reading an essay by my friend Ian Harber where he shared this beautiful line: “it’s time to build cathedrals and plant sequoias.”
We can’t be a flash in the pan that burns brightly for a moment before burning out quickly. We need “a long obedience in the same direction” as Peterson proposes.
Let’s be people who embrace the patience of God and look to building something that lasts. This is not something built on our preferences — I’m sure Elijah would have preferred to see the results of 1 Kings 18:39 earlier but it was the patient ferment that made the things God did more potent.
Our task now is mere “sloppy obedience” as Matt Chandler has said. Let’s do the things of God according to the way of God and do our best to not get distracted along the way.