Hurry Up and Wait

BY: Deana Bell, Director, Restored Marriage

My husband and I disagree about how to say the word "hurry." Clearly if you consult the great Webster's Dictionary you will find that "hur-ee" is the correct pronunciation. But if you lived and grew up in the metro-Philadelphia area you would say "harry." Yes, Harry, as in the man's name. Sounds strange, but definitely true. The same with those cute and colorful things you sometimes put on your soft serve ice cream. To me they are sprinkles, to my husband they are "jimmies."

Then, our disagreement sometimes goes from just pronunciation or description, to the bigger meaning behind it all.  From what we call it personally to what our kids will say someday. Or whose pronunciation or description will ultimately “win out?” Will the future generations of Bells call them "sprinkles,” or will they call them "jimmies?" ‘Cause that's what REALLY matters, right!?

Why is it so important for us to be right about such little things? Jesus tried to deal with this same question with His disciples. Mark 9:11-13 says, "Then they asked him, 'Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?' Jesus responded, ‘Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt? But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.'" (NLT)

Holman's Concise Bible Commentary explains these verses this way: "Jesus shifted their focus to the crucial question: not why Elijah must first come but why the Son of man must suffer." Jesus has that amazing ability, doesn't He? His ability to shift focus. Jesus was saying to His disciples that the order in which things happened didn't matter, but rather that the suffering was going to take place. Shifting our focus from when to Whom. From when things would happen to the One to whom they would happen.

The truth is, the disciples probably didn't want to wait to see God's kingdom return here on Earth. They wanted to know that the second coming was near. If only Jesus would tell them when Elijah would return, then they could predict, with more certainty and less effort, when things would finally be better for them on Earth.

Jesus' brilliant response probably caught them a little off guard. He didn't tell them "when," He told them "Who." Immediately, I believe, their focus would have gone from themselves to the power and significance of the Cross and the Resurrection. From "when will our lives get better?" to "Who will be sacrificed for us?"

In the end, it really doesn't matter if the Bell progeny eat "sprinkles" or "jimmies" on their ice cream. It matters that they EAT and enjoy ice cream. It doesn't matter if Elijah comes before Jesus or after. What matters is that Jesus IS coming. In other words, continue to keep your eyes on Jesus instead of your circumstances. Your circumstances may take you a few places you’d rather not go, likely despair, fear, and condemnation. Jesus can take you further, deeper, wider, and higher. He can show you that fear is a liar, despair is unnecessary, and that condemnation is from the enemy. Isn't that a better way to look at it? Jesus is worth it. He is always worth it. In every circumstance, He IS the right answer and He HAS the right answer. 

I pray that you continue to search for "what really matters" each day of your life. Looking to Jesus and the Word is first and foremost. If you have gotten set back by looking at your circumstances instead of Jesus, now is the time to change your direction. Be patient in the process, knowing that Jesus always has a plan. Don't get ahead of Him. Wait for His timing. Remember Jesus is never late. He is always "on time!!!"

Blessings to you and your day.

Much love,
Deana