UNPACK This...About WaitingSample

Waiting 18 Innings for Victory In May 2017, the New York Yankees pulled out a 5-4 win against the Chicago Cubs after 18 innings and over six hours of play. This crazy “two games in one” turned out to be the majors’ longest interleague game by innings. Fans love extra innings because a great game is being extended, but players have to dig deep to hang on for the duration. As fans anxiously wait to see which team wins, the intensity between the teams grows after each completed inning. In life, we aren’t as eager for “extra innings” when we wait for challenging circumstances to change. If tests and trials last longer than we want, the intensity can grow after each completed day, week or year. However, every “extra inning” causes us to dig deep, rely on God more, and seek His strength to hang on longer. Waiting is one of the hardest things we are forced to do, but as followers of Jesus, we must place our hope in Him. Our faith grows when we witness His sustaining power and purpose during the persevering. The Bible encourages us in Isaiah 30:18 (ESV), "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him." Lamentations 3:25 (ESV) also reminds us that "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." We may be setting our own records for how long we’ve been waiting for a specific victory, but like the Yankee fans who stuck with it until the final out, we can experience joy today. Let’s cling to the truth of the ultimate victory we have through Jesus...and remember we wait from a position of strength because of Him. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes I can’t believe I’ve had to wait another day or another year for a circumstance in my life to change. I pray that I would trust You as I wait and place my expectant hope in You. Thank you for Your graciousness, mercy, and blessing. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.