“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you…” 2 Peter 3:8-9b

Is God Walking Slowly?

Walk His Way Revisited

One day when I was about eight years old, I was walking on the sidewalk through busy city streets with my grandmother when we came to a stoplight. As it turned green, I ran halfway across the street while my grandmother was just stepping off the curb. She called me back and firmly took my hand.

“I can cross a street by myself, Grandma. I am eight years old.”

She wisely replied, “I need you to help me cross safely.” I was humiliated, holding my grandmother’s hand. But she knew what I did not: I would not watch for dangers; would not understand that a car in the turn lane could run me down; would not realize I was small and might not be seen unless I walked beside a much taller person. She knew the risks and saw the possibilities before they could happen. Holding her hand, I would be safe.

Besides feeling like I was being treated like a toddler, I hated that she walked so slowly. I remember pulling her along, and her resistance. The hurry of youthful exuberance was no match for her steady, careful steps and strong grip on my little hand.

I feel like this with God sometimes. I want answers to my prayers; He makes me wait. I want to rush headlong into my fantastic idea; He pulls me back to prepare things. I think I can go it alone; He has my hand as I face the risks and dangers of lurking enemies. He is bigger than I am: He’ll be seen by the oncoming spiritual traffic.

Oh, what a comfort to have a Savior who sees ahead of me and knows when it is time to go, when it is safe to forge ahead, when I am mature enough for the task at hand.

God isn’t actually walking slowly, of course. It just seems that way to us when our exuberance makes us hurry on ahead of Him. Paul probably felt like this when he wanted to go ahead in ministry but the Spirit prevented him (Acts 16:6-7). Daniel probably felt like this when he prayed and waited 21 days for God to come to his aid (the angel was delayed by Satan from arriving more quickly—Daniel 10:12-13). Jacob probably felt like this as he worked 14 years for Rachel’s father before he could take Rachel home with him. There are many examples in Scripture; to me, the most striking is found in Revelation 6:9-10 when the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held, cried with a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

It helps to remember that God is unaffected by our clocks; He isn’t slow, just wise and patient.

Father, help us trust You when You want us to slow down, to stop, to wait. You have perfect knowledge of the future, and we rely on You to be our guide. Amen.