2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Reflection:
Perspective is an interesting thing. The way I interpret a situation can be totally different from how you interpret it, yet both perspectives can be correct. Sometimes however, one perspective can be correct and the other can be skewed. This verse hit me like a hammer this morning as I read it. Peter tells us, “The Lord is not slow about His promise.” Is this a gentle rebuke? Is Peter addressing something we all do? Do we try to pull God along to join us at our pace? His statement is pretty absolute, “The Lord is NOT SLOW about His promise.” It may not be a rebuke, but it may be an instruction, “Change your perspective. Don’t count according to your understanding of slowness; the Lord is not slow about His promise.”
Another change in perspective Peter is leading us to make, is who is showing patience. We often believe it is us who are being patient towards God as we wait for Him to move in our lives. Peter states plainly that God is being patient towards us. He writes, “but (the Lord) is patient toward you.” Our Father is wonderful. He is patient towards us, He waits for us. His endless grace and mercy have been poured out in love. It is with this great love, He patiently waits for us.
Prayer outline:
Response: You wait for me. You…wait…for me. Take the time to think about this. He is patient towards you. He waits for you. You are on His mind, even with all the millions of people speaking to Him right now, He is waiting for you.
Father, help me hold the beauty of this reality, You wait for me. Your heart is towards me. May I know Your love afresh. There is nothing more precious than knowing Your love. In this time, may I grow closer to You. Draw me into communion with You. May I know You and be known by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.