Why Does God Allow Suffering? By Pete BriscoeSample

Why Does Jesus Wait?

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice; but for those who love, time is not. — Henry van Dyke, Music and Other Poems

One of our parenting challenges was recognizing when to get involved and when to stand back. Sometimes Libby or I would overhear conversations or watch some bully-type behavior and we’d want to intervene, proclaiming, “Hey, you eight-year-old punk! You can’t talk to my kid like that!”

Thankfully we refrained, and no young people left our home traumatized. Over time our kids grew up and selected encouraging friends. Seeing them choose well was incredibly rewarding. But waiting for growth when we wanted to intervene? That was hard.

Jesus could stop suffering. He could intervene, but instead He waits. Why? If He’s in charge and could stop this mess, why does He wait?

“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (Hebrews 1:13) 

We’d be missing out if we didn’t consider how difficult the wait must be for God. His love for us is so great that I wonder just how often He wants to come down and say, “Hey, you punk! I see what you’re doing to my kid!” The day that God punishes those who did evil to His children will come. But in the meantime, we live in the “until.”

Are you able to trust God with the “wait”? Are you able to say, “I know you love me even though you aren’t showing up right now?” The truth is this: one day it will all be made right, but we haven’t arrived at that day—yet. Until we do, we trust. And as He waits, something incredible is happening: the kingdom is growing and the family of God is growing closer and becoming ever larger.

Jesus, how I’d love to see the world as You do—not as a single day, but as all the days leading toward one great day of restoration. On behalf of everyone who accepted You today, I’m thankful for Your delay. Grant me courage to talk about You so that our family can be even larger. Amen.