That's our problem. We find it difficult to wait on the winds of God. We had rather go churning across life's sea at our own rate of speed. But waiting demands patience.

Waiting also demands obedience. If things don't go our way in life, we want to take our ball and go home. When God doesn't move on our time schedule, our tendency is to grow disinterested or even bitter toward Him. We get discouraged and tired.

As long as things are happening, we stay interested and committed. But when we have to wait a long time, we want to drop out.

Not Simeon. This old man had prayed a lifetime for the coming of the Messiah. He had seen a thousand prayers go unanswered. But after all these years of waiting, he was still at the temple -- faithful, obedient, and committed. As a result of that, he was in position that day to see his dream fulfilled.

Anybody can serve on exciting days. But God needs us to be faithful and committed in difficult days.

Did you know that some of this world's greatest literature has come from jails? John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Alexander Solzhenytsin's Gulag Archipelago, and half of the New Testament -- all were written in prison. These persons remained committed, even in difficult days.

If things are not going well for you, don't drop out on God. Don't get bitter. Some wait, but they are not good waiters. They have a bad spirit. How about you? Are you a good waiter?

Waiting is difficult. Waiting demands God's help. How can you continue to wait in the midst of your pain? How can you continue to travel down what appears to be a dead-end street? How can you stay in the marriage or stay on the job when it does not appear that it will get any better? How can you wait?

God can help. He has promised to do that for you. A prominent man was being interviewed by a newspaper reporter. The reporter said, "I understand, sir, that you are a self-made man." The man turned to the reporter and said slowly, "Yes, I guess I am what you would call a self-made man." Then he added, "But if I had it to do over again I think I'd call in a little help."5

My friend, don't try to live life by yourself, call in some help. Don't bear your burden alone, call in some help. Don't try to just "tough it out," call in some help.

Call in God! He has promised that His grace is sufficient. His grace is sufficient for the moment of crisis, and His grace is sufficient for the long days of waiting.

Waiting makes demands. Waiting demands faith. God is always looking for faith, trust, and commitment in our lives.

One of the reasons He causes us to wait is to test our faith and commitment. If He delivered us immediately from every problem, if He immediately opened every door, then I doubt we would ever trust Him very much.

Trust is tested in the difficult moments of life. I heard about three fellows who were talking about prayer. In the course of their conversation, they got into a debate about the best position to be in when you are praying.

One of the men said the proper position for prayer is kneeling, because that shows humility and a desire to be obedient. The second man said the best position for prayer is standing, because when one stands it shows adoration and praise to God.