God created time in the first act of creation. From the moment He created light, He formed the beginning of time called the first day. I'm grateful for time and the way that it brings hope to the end of painful realities as well as measures the wonder of blissful hours.

Time is a gift no matter how you look at it. We are only offered so much time in any given day. How we use our gift is up to us. It will affect the way we experience heaven when time is no more. (For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad 2 Corinthians 5:10).

I write this as I sit waiting for others’ schedules to merge with mine. All I have been told is that it is going to be a while. I can grow frustrated in the land of the unknown and experience the time I have before me as a prison, or I can accept the gift of time called waiting and wonder why God has me here at this time and at this place. The best way to enjoy time is to see what the God of all time may be up to in the moment you are living.

With this thought in mind, I try to talk to the young man experiencing the wait along with me. I ask his feelings about what it means to his life and the rest of his day. He is reticent to share with a stranger but politely opens up in guarded measure about his life, his children, his job and his hopes for the end of this long wait. I tell him about my wait. I feel for him and tell him that I will pray for him, and he surprises when he tells me that he will pray for me. It was an unexpected conversation while I sit and wait. I learned a lot from him. He will never know that many of the things he so reluctantly shared were an encouragement to me and helped me see my own life from a different perspective. I see things differently because I talked to this stranger. Perhaps I would never have grown in this way if I wasn't forced into this unwanted wait.

1 Timothy 1:16 finds Paul appreciating God’s great patience. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

I too am grateful that God is patient with me, but I'm totally amazed that I can gain so much by allowing the Holy Spirit’s patience to flow out of me.

Just wait, the God of all time has time to show you how much He loves and cares for you. Don't let impatience block the strength of waiting patiently. You will need a lot of patience to grow in Christlikeness.