“Are we there, yet?”

A thought by John Ortberg (2015-05-05) from his book, Life-Changing Love: Moving God'sLove from Your Head to Your Heart (p. 111). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

A few weeks back, our middle aged granddaughter and I were heading across LA to Monterey Park to pick up Gigi, her grandma and my wife, from work.  Now the going to pick her up is probably to most difficult trip each day I take.  LA traffic at that time of the day can be a challenge and it was that day so Addison was asking me, “Papa, are we there yet?”  Now I can be an annoying Papa but also a fun Papa.  So we played the game of, “No, we’re here right now but not there, yet.”  We had a fun time back and forth, together.

Now I love the app, Waze.  It looks at the traffic and it doesn’t take you straight to where you want to go but it takes you the best possible way.  During the busy traffic times it takes you off the Freeway onto other roads.  It can really be an interesting experience but it gets you there the fastest way.  It knows the best way to go at that particular time.  I have learned through experience that I can trust it.

I like how John tells the story of the Children of Israel leaving Egypt to go to the Promised Land.  He says, “They could not have expected it would take long. Once they left Egypt, all they had to do was to cross the Sinai Peninsula. It was not a terribly long trip — less than 200 miles. They could do it in a matter of weeks. But God had an alternate route in mind.” 

He then continues, “The Bible says, ‘When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, “If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness.’ This is the God who, precisely because he loves his children, refuses to take the shortcut they would much prefer. Because of their lack of faith, their fear, he sends them on the roundabout way.”

He then says, “God does lead his people on roundabout ways. He does not move hastily. He is never in a hurry. It is one of his most irritating qualities.”  But he can be trusted because he loves us and he knows what is best for us.  But it still is easy for us to ask, “Are we there yet?”  No, we’re here but we’re not there, yet. 

John also says, “God can of course move quickly. He can answer prayer dramatically, in the twinkling of an eye, to use St. Paul’s phrase. But as a general rule he is remarkably patient. The Mennonites have a saying, ‘We are living in the time of God’s patience.’ God is delaying the end of history out of love, so that as many human beings as possible may seek him and be saved.”  He really loves us and he knows best.

So how is your journey going?