Another Lesson in Patience

Recently God has been reminding me of how patient He is...and how patient I am not.  Now, by earthly standards, I've been told I am very patient.  However, from God's view, I still need some work.  He has also been reminding me of how He answers prayer, and follows through on His promises.

I have been leading a study group for over three years now.  Before I dove into the challenge, I spent some time praying about what the group would look like, what our focus would be.  I felt God leading us in the direction of His love.  We were to learn about it, accept it, then share and spread that love.  When no one seemed to be signing up to come, except one marginally obligated friend, I was disappointed and began to question if it had been God I was hearing. Then He graciously gave me a dream about the group.  I was leading the study. Every time I looked up from what I was reading there were more and more people in my kitchen.  It got to the point where I began to worry there wasn't enough room or food for everyone.  When I woke, I was pretty sure God was confirming that this was the path I was to take and that He would grow the group.  Soon, I would be amazed at how many people were attending. 

A few hours before our first meeting was to be held, I received a phone call from another friend.  Although she thought she was calling to check in on me, it turned out that God had wanted her to join the group.  And so, there were three members.  The next meeting we were up to four people.  I was excited to see the word God gave me coming to fruition.  But the numbers stopped growing and I didn't have to refurnish my home to fit a huge crowd.  I continued to lead without worry - God would bring  those who needed to be there.  We dove into a book.  I figured by the end of our first year together we would be sharing God's love with others and spreading it around like wildfire.  Apparently that wasn't exactly God's plan.  While I am sure, individually, we often projected His love to others, as a group we didn't really reach that stage until the end our our third year together.  It was amazing how it just seemed to happen, how one person's heart infected the rest of ours.  Everything just fell into place and we began organizing ladies events for the women of our community.  I laugh now when I think back to that first year.  Seeing things in hindsight, I know we would have never been ready to take these steps after a year, not even two.  God invested three years in us and patiently waited for each of us to grow and be ready.

The other thing that happened was our group did grow.  We now have six official members, but there is more to our numbers than our bi-weekly meetings.  We had so many volunteers come to help us out with our last event, it was amazing!  And at the end of the afternoon we even had attendees asking if they could help out at the next event!  So, while I may not have an overflow of people in my house, God has increased our numbers - just not the way I had expected, and not as quickly as I had anticipated.

I am so glad that God is more patient than I am.  I'm pretty sure my group members are too!  I still struggle with my need to hurry things along, but I can rest in the knowledge that He is always at work.  I am trying to let go of my own expectations and be confident in the promise that God always comes through.  I am attempting to become more patient, remembering that His vantage point is far better than my own, and His timing is perfect.