Last fall my wife walked me along the back of our property and with shovel in hand we planted bulbs.  Crocus, daffodil, tulip and iris bulbs were strategically placed and covered for the winter.  Now, there are green shoots everywhere.  Some are just breaking through and others are about an inch high.  It’s exciting because it’s spring!  The days are getting longer, the sun is shining, the temperatures are warming and now the flowers are growing.  I  want it to happen all at once.  Hurry up…it’s spring!

Since I noticed the first green shoots, I’ve gone back several times to check on the progress.  And, the green shoots are still green shoots.  Hurry up!  I want to see the flowers.  I want some color.  I want some definition.  Hurry up, please.  Despite my impatience, nature will take its course and no matter  what my imposed schedule  may be the flowers will bloom when they’re good and ready and not before. 

That principle is true and right.  Whether we like it or not, God has a schedule and we can either accept it or resent it.  In fact, I read this verse and thought of the green shoots…

     “Wait  for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”                                                                                                       Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

The connotation of the word “wait” is an eager and patient anticipation of the Lord.  In other words, everything is under control (His) and our impatience is not going to change the schedule.  We can be eager and anticipate His plan and … relax! 

When I think of our ministry here at Frontier Missions and the great needs that are everywhere on the reservations, I get anxious and impatient.  I’m tempted to rush ahead of God (if you can imagine) and just get it done.  Green shoots?  Let’s make ‘em bloom by tomorrow!  But, alas they won’t.  You must wait.  You must be strong.  You must trust that God’s schedule is WAY better than yours.  Remember …

    Isaiah 55: 8-9  (NLT)Rick McPherson
Team Leader

So, relax!  Before you know it the green shoots will be beautiful crocus, daffodils, tulips and iris…and our Creator God and Heavenly Father will receive all the glory!

Sincerely,

“If you worry, you didn’t pray. If you pray, don’t worry.”

“ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the LORD.  ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ”