Waiting

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32 [NKJV]

In our fast-paced society, we want things to happen at once and we can see how everything is set up so well that fast food restaurants and various drop-in services allow us to satisfy our appetites as quickly as possible. This kind of thinking could very easily influence our walk with God; we expect Him to instantly solve our problems and make us Christ-like right away, through a quick devotional reading and prayer.

In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven as a mustard seed. Although the mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds, with time it grows to become a tree, with branches big enough to provide habitation for birds. This process of transformation from seed to tree is in direct contrast to our culture of demand for instant gratification.

The parable of the mustard seed tells us that our spiritual life is about growth; growth that we might not see day to day but that will show over time. The prerequisites are that we are connected to Jesus and let his word nourish us on a regular basis. To wait on God is an active choice we make. The waiting time is never wasted, instead it gives God an opportunity to prune our hearts and make us more like him as we listen to his voice. So, don’t be discouraged in the waiting, but instead say with king David:

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope” – Psalm 130:5

Pray

Lord, help me to be patient and wait on you and put my hope in your word, Amen.”