By Robert J. Tamasy
Everyone seems to be in such a hurry. It has been that way for a long time. It might have started with the Industrial Revolution, when much of the world began to shift from agrarian societies. When you are growing crops, farmers know you cannot rush the process. But when products are manufactured, such as cars, clothing, or electronic components, the pace of life and work accelerates significantly.
Technology obviously has had the added effect of making life seem instantaneous. We receive emails, messages and social media posts as quickly as a hiccup. Even if we stay at home, we can have an online face-to-face meeting with bosses and employees using various conferencing tools.
So, we find ourselves living in an ASAP – As Soon As Possible – world in which needs and demands are responded to immediately. The problem is, in real life not all challenges can be resolved ‘right now.’ A client might delay making an important decision. The long-awaited promotion might be slow in coming. A serious illness might require a longer recovery than expected. ‘As soon as possible’ can take a long time.
This can sometimes be especially true for those who strive to integrate our faith into everything we do, including our work. Having circumstances beyond our control and with no choice but to trust God to provide us with wisdom and direction, we can learn the meaning of a key word: WAIT.
For action-oriented individuals, their motto might be, “Don’t just stand there – do something!” But as we read passages like Psalm 37, we discover that is not always God’s plan. The psalm does open with things to do:
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord…” (Psalm 37:3-5).
Sounds good, right? We think to ourselves, ‘I can do that!’ But then we read words that make us step on the brakes: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” (Psalm 37:7). As if for good measure, verse 34 in the same psalm tells us, “Wait for the Lord and keep His way….” Often, this is not what we want to hear. I can recall numerous times during my career when I prayed seeking God’s guidance on a variety of concerns. But often His answer was, “Wait.” Here are some passages I found helpful:
Focusing on God. Sometimes the Lord’s purpose in making us wait is to reinforce the truth that He is sovereign – He is in control, and we are not, and He can be trusted. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
Getting needed rest. Sometimes, whether recovering from illness or reeling from a professional setback, we need time to regroup, be restored, “…those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Patiently awaiting the outcome. When confident that we are doing what God has called us to do, we can trust Him with the results, no matter how long it takes for them to be realized, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
© 2025. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Do you often find yourself in a hurry, running on a continual treadmill of “As Soon As Possible” or “We need this right now!”? How does this make you feel? How does it affect the enjoyment you receive from your work?
- What strategies – if any – have you found useful for coping with or even escaping the hectic pace of everyday life and work?
- When you read God’s words from the Bible, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him,” what is your reaction? Does this admonition bring you joy and comfort, or do you respond with the thought, ‘But I don’t want to wait? I don’t have time for that!’ Explain your answer.
- How can the necessity of waiting prove to be beneficial? The passage from Isaiah says that “those who wait on [or hope in] the Lord will renew their strength.” Have you had times when this has proved to be true for you?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Exodus 6:6-8; Ruth 3:16-18; Psalm 42:1-5; Acts 1:4-5,2:1-4; Galatians 6:9
Challenge for This Week
This week try to talk with someone about the hectic, fast-paced world in which we live and how we should properly respond to it. Think of a time when God put you in His “waiting room,” making it necessary for you to wait for His answer to your needs – and how you reacted.
Maybe you find yourself in an undesirable “waiting” mode right now. Discuss this with a friend, a mentor or some trusted advisors to help you gain the right perspective on why God might be asking you to wait and be patient.
