Waiting for God

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's patience." (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

We need the patience of Christ to keep us from over-helping others. No peril is greater than this too eager love, when brought close to those who are in need.

We would help too much—or too soon. We would lift away burdens—that God would have the person carry longer for his own good. We would make the way easy—that would better be left hard.

We would hasten the learning of the lesson—that could far better be learned slowly. We would force the bursting of the flower—before the time God has appointed, thus spoiling his perfect work.

We want to hurry the spiritual development of lives, not content to wait until the development comes naturally. There are hundreds of lives hurt by the impatience of good people, who desire to do them good.

If we would be truly helpful to others, we must never try too hard to help. It is hard for us, in our eagerness to help, just to do our little—and then stand aside and let God work.

We feel we ought to be doing something; but in truth our doing is only hurtful intermeddling, and we would far better keep our hands off!

J.R.M.