Bola can be very spontaneous. She is one of my friends that can be awarded the trophy for impulsive acts, any time, any day. Her character has its benefits sometimes because once there is a project that needs action, she is the best bet to get the ball rolling.
I was not surprised when she announced on the Whatsapp group that she wanted to go into the oil palm business. Before we could spell Jack Robinson, my friend had gotten the plot and started the work. We started hailing her the usual “Action Lady”. The land was cleared and seeds were put into the nurseries. It was a learning phase for me too. Seeds get all the pampering and nutrients before the rainy season. I observed that it takes a lot of time to sow the cover crop, dig holes in the plantation, take the seedlings out of the nursery, carry them to the plantation and plant them. All this work needs to be carefully done. It took time!
Three months into the process, Bola started crying; “they did not inform me very well oooo”. She was expecting a bumper harvest and sales to start coming in. I looked at her with my big eyes surprised. “Madam, what part of agriculture did you do? Because I know that oil palm is a perennial crop and takes a lot of time before harvest.”
Even the Bible highlighted it. In James 5:7, the Bible explains how important it is for us to wait patiently just as a farmer waits patiently for a harvest. When I was reflecting on the passage, I also remembered my first years as a teacher. My students in their first year in elementary school had to plant seeds as their projects. After planting, the students kept checking every hour. And I could feel their anxiety and frustration when there were no sprouts on the third day.
Let us take a deep look at this verse.
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.
James 5:7 (NLT)
Relating this to our daily lives, we wait for the manifestation of God’s promises. And just like the students and Bola, it can be a long and slow wait which we call DELAY sometimes. However, there are things we can do while we WAIT.
- We WORSHIP
Worship is not just singing songs. It is deeper than that. It is a lifestyle that ensures that we live to God’s glory at all times. While we wait, we should live a lifestyle of worship. - We ACT
As we wait, we confess his words and we act according to his will. You are looking for a job? Keep applying. Act in faith. Yes, you are waiting. You still need to do what you need to do in obedience to his will. - We INTERACT
Here we interact with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our comfort in trying times and situations. He is the only one that can see you through. Be open to God’s spirit and always pray without ceasing. Prayer ignites experiences with God. Don’t stop praying during your waiting period. Don’t pray in doubt or fear.
- We TRUST
Trusting God totally is a new level of understanding. This is surrendering all your worries and anxieties to him.
The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.
Psalms 145:17 (NLT)
This verse makes us understand that God can never do wrong. He is righteous and gracious in all his ways. Therefore, he can never abandon you.
In a world that believes that the patient dog does not eat the fattest bone, God keeps assuring us that our latter will always be greater than our past. Waiting on him is the best decision you can ever make as a Christian. So, stay strong with the full assurance of faith that God will never leave you nor forsake you.
Cover Image generated by Microsoft’s Copilot
Light Chime served in Pistis Productions during her undergraduate days. One of her passions is writing for impact.