Waiting patiently
by Kathy Matuschka
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Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop (James 5:7).
Yesterday I mentioned how it may be future generations who see the extent of what God’s Spirit is doing among us now. If we look into our brief history as a Christian church in Australia and New Zealand, I expect it is true that those who went before us wouldn’t recognise the LCANZ of today with its many fields (for example, early childhood services, schools, youth and multicultural ministries, aged and community care) within our wider communities.
Many believe that the Christian church in the west is experiencing a ‘liminal’ period, a threshold between the past and the way things worked then, and a future way of being, which at the moment we can only glimpse.
We know that one day, we will realise the kingdom of God in all its glory. But between now and that day, not all is clear. It is like we are seeds under the ground, undergoing transformation.
There are other seeds in the ground with us. We need to be patient, both with ourselves and all we cannot see and do and with one another (our neighbouring seeds) as they also see only dimly.
As people who know how the story ends, but who for now, need to be buried each day with Christ, we need to sit with our anxieties about what we cannot see, and instead, trust the process and the One who is transforming us.
See how the farmer waits.
Dear God, it is hard to wait, especially when I am anxious or uncomfortable. Keep drawing me to yourself because, in your presence, I am renewed by your love and filled with your peace and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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