GOD'S PROMISES

Waiting is difficult, especially if you think you've waited long enough. However, it is easy to lose reason and become dangerously impulsive through impatience. Of all virtues, I dislike patience. I love action. I do fret when things do not work out. I get discouraged when I have to wait for something to get right. I like to control everything; I always do want things to happen within my own set period. However, I've experienced the regrets that come with excessive anxiety and impatience. Also, I've learnt the gains of patience over time - the cool satisfaction of persevering to get the results longed for. I've discovered, in a slow way, the safety of waiting for God's time and the immense benefits in having faith.

Last Sunday, I was walking to the church when I noticed a flowering mango tree. What makes this very strange is because it is the mango season. This means that other mango trees are already bearing fruits and farmers are already enjoying the produce of these trees.

I imagined this strange tree as a human and felt pity for it. It wasn't a young mango tree. It wasn't too old either. It should be over three years old. I knew that while the other mango trees were flowering many months ago, this particular tree would certainly be bare and look hopeless. It is very sad when things are happening around you and your own situation seems static. It is strange when people around you are being blessed and you are not. I thought of women of over forty years who desired kids. I remembered young men who lack jobs. I remembered all kids of people who loves God and prays to him concerning his promises over their lives.

Yet, the sight of the mango tree reminded me of God's faithfulness. I remembered that God's promises, though late, would never fail. I remembered Hannah, Abraham....the Israelites in Egypt, and Elizabeth too. Looking at the mango tree carefully, I saw its beauty, its golden flowers and new, fresh leaves. I noticed that I was looking at a miracle. I saw a tree that God wouldn't forget. The thought made me smile all the way to church; I was hopeful, knowing that God honors his word, more than his name.