MTC #161 - Waiting & the Shield of Faith

Lately, I've found myself being impatient over many things. I know that a loving God's plan for me is perfect and He is the master of knowing when, and when not, to provide me with what my heart desires. But knowing that fact and actually being perfectly at peace with it, is sometimes very difficult. I'm sure if I was able to see the future and see what experiences I needed in order to become who I want to become, then I'd be content. But I know that's not how it works. I need to trust. I need to have faith in that overall plan--though sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is so dim I can hardly see it. In fact, it's so dim that sometimes I just want to yell "Why isn't this blessing I want coming? Why is this so slow to happen? Why does he or she have to keep suffering so? Why can't this be fixed sooner than later?"

One of the songs we sang today on the broadcast was The Whole Armor of God. The lyrics are inspired from the Bible verses of Ephesians (chapter 6) where Paul writes: 

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." 

In the song itself, there's a line that says "Faith for my shield, when fiery darts rain hard." It feels like those fiery darts, for me, have been darts of impatience, of entitlement, and of thinking I know better than God. To combat those darts, I need more faith. Faith, that sometimes seems to easy to have, and other times, so elusive to hold on to, express, and employ.

In the February Ensign magazine, there was an article titled Making the Most of What We Have. In it, the author Mindy Anne Selu said "The power to change all of our cards is not always up to us. There will be times when we just have to be patient and wait on the Lord's timing for the winds to change and our hand to improve. Trusting in His timing is paramount if we are to keep that optimism and positive attitude while the game of life doesn't seem to be going our way."

Texting, emailing, opening an app, and finding the latest headlines may all be instant. But learning, receiving answers to prayers, trusting, and figuring out God's will, are not. 

And I'm learning, again, to be OK with that.

Until next time, God be with you.