Worth the Wait

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I'm Tom Felton and I titled our reading, Worth the Weight. Talk about a layover. Phil Stringer waited 18 hours to board a flight that was delayed due to thunderstorms. His patience and perseverance paid off, however. Not only did he get to fly to his destination and make it on time for important business meetings, but he was also the only traveler on the flight. All the other passengers gave up or made other arrangements. Flight attendants gave him whatever food items he desired and Stringer adds, I did sit in the front row, of course.

Why not when you have the whole plane to yourself? The outcome was definitely worth the weight. Abraham also endured what must have felt like a lengthy delay. Way back when he was known as Abram, God told him that he would make him into a great nation and that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him.

Only one problem for the 75-year-old man. How could he become a great nation without an heir? And though his waiting was left wanting at times, he and wife Sarai tried to help God fulfill his promise with some misguided ideas. When he was 100 years old, Isaac was born to him. His faith was later celebrated by the writer of Hebrews. Waiting can be hard, and like Abraham, we might not do it perfectly, but as we pray and rest in God's plans, may he help us persevere in him.

It's always worth the wait. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Genesis chapter 12, verses 1 through 5. The Lord had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people, and your father's household, to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse. And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.

Abram was 75 years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and all the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Let's pray. Dear God, please help us wait and persevere in you. Even when we grow weary, may we rest in your perfect plans, for your plans are good and true. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.