Waiting Well

Do you like watching pro golf?

You might think it's boring. But I'm akin to the Christmas and Easter Christian when it comes to watching the sport. I watch the majors.

I watched some of the British Open this weekend.

The commentators were discussing how golfers get tired.

One commentator whispered (because they never say anything) about the length of the golf swing. It takes a little less than a second of motion. That means a professional golfer is only in the swinging motion for less than a minute and a half for a round of golf.

However, every woman who hates golf knows that golf takes much longer than a minute and a half.

The rest of the time is spent in waiting. Whether it's walking to the ball or next hole, choosing a club, thinking, or waiting for another golfer.

There's something that Christians should learn from golfers: how to wait well.

PGA golfers understand that a minute and half of actually swinging doesn't determine where they finish.

You need to learn how to wait well. 

Think about people in the Bible. Can you tell me one person who didn't have to wait?

This morning I was reading through some psalms and one phrase was continually on David's lips: "I will wait..." David would have made a great golfer.

Our culture doesn't lend itself to waiting, but waiting is a necessary skill for the Christian to learn. Your ability to do so is evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in your life through patience.

The truth is the majority of our lives are spent in waiting.

"Big" moments will only comprise a small fraction of your life. But like the golfer, we don't just sit and wait for big moments. We are always doing something. We pray, study the scripture, gather in community, work, love others, and love God.

If you want to finish strong, you have to learn how to wait well.

How do you wait? Can you see the Holy Spirit's work in your life in this area?