2 Peter 3:9 (NIV): “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
I don’t run anymore. I used to run… a lot. When I was active duty in the Army I ran in formation; I ran alone; I ran short distances; I ran long distances. I never have run a marathon, but I have run over 10 miles many times. Every six months I had to pass a timed run in order to stay in the Army (I actually don’t miss that stress at all!).
I don’t run anymore because my knees now regularly have pain. I guess the years of running, and the 80 airborne landings, have taken their toll. I am slower than I used to be.
I have learned during the past six years since my retirement from the Army that I can still move forward, at a different speed, a slower speed, and still do things that are in line with God’s plans and purposes for my life. I may move physically slow, but I’m learning that God continues to move at His pace. I just want to stay in step with Him.
The verse above says so many things about the Lord:
- The Lord keeps his promises. I can receive every promise in the Bible as a sure thing for me.
- The Lord is patient with me. Even when I am not patient with myself, the Lord is patient with me. Wow. I need that, because I can sometimes be really hard on myself.
- The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish. I am amazed at how God sees the whole world and has love for all of us. John 3:16, perhaps the first Bible verse I learned, says it so well, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
- The Lord wants everyone to repent. God loves everyone, but everyone still has a choice. I need to repent by confessing my sin and choosing to follow Jesus. The Lord desires everyone to do that. If we don’t, we perish.
- The Lord is not slow. I may think He is slow, but I misunderstand His pace. He moves ahead, unfolding history in a way that everyone will eventually not only understand, but will praise Him for it.
When I look ahead at 2021, this verse encourages me. I can embrace God’s love for me and know that as I align with Him, I can relax. God moves ahead with me exactly at the pace He wants, because He is patient with me and loves me.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your patience. Even when I think you are moving slow, I realize that you are moving at exactly the right pace for me. As I move ahead in 2021, may I relax and simply stay in step with You.
