I live in the Pacific Northwest, known for long dreary months of rain. The summers, on the other hand, are beautiful. From June to September, we have sunny, dry weather with temperatures in the 80s and low humidity.
These week has been a wee bit different. Yesterday’s temperature in my home town reached a whopping 108 degrees.
Sunday afternoon, we discovered that our air conditioner had gasped and given up. Not good news with over 100 degree weather projected for the next several days. I tried to laugh it off. “We’ll be fine. We grew up with out AC and we survived.” But I frantically dialed the repairman.
The receptionist didn’t sound very hopeful for a quick visit. We tried every do-it-yourself trick we could think of — which wasn’t much. Turned circuits off and on, looked for reset buttons, etc. We thought about getting a screwdriver out and taking the thing apart, but thought better of it. No need to turn a simple repair into one of those, “you need a new heat pump” kind of moments.
We waited around all day Monday watching the temperature in the house climb. I was nervous about leaving the house and going someplace cool, for fear that the repairman wouldn’t bother to call my cell phone first. Finally my husband got home and I swept the kids out to late afternoon dentist appointments. Who ever thought that we would be so happy to go to the dentist!
Tuesday was worse. By then I was starting to doubt that we would EVER see the repair guy. The poor secretary couldn’t give me a schedule. “He’s getting around to everyone as quickly as he can.” The worst part was the waiting. We could have handled the temperature, otherwise. But being at the mercy of someone else’s schedule… that’s tough.
It was also tough being the mom in this situation. I tried to model patience and a good attitude. “Let’s not complain. God’s in control. Let’s try to make this fun!” I would say brightly. My kids, looking like half-melted ice cream cones, didn’t agree. “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it, (Psalm 118:24)” I silently repeated to myself.
When the temperature in the house reached 90 yesterday, my resolve cracked.
“That’s it. I can’t take it anymore. We’re getting out of here.” I grabbed my purse and keys. “Library, bowling alley, mall — I don’t care. Let’s go!”
That’s the exact moment when the phone rang. “I’m on my way!”
It reminded me of those times when I prayed for something over a long period of time and wondered if God was even listening. Sometimes it’s not until I am at a breaking point that I feel Him move in my life. Why is that? Is God a procrastinator like me? Does He just like to toy with us?
I don’t believe that’s the case. I know He has plans and thoughts that I cannot hope to understand. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55:8-9) Just like I sometimes understand things better than my children, God understands the “big picture” better than I do.
Secondly, I believe He waits in order to develop my character and encourage me to fully trust in Him. If He just plunked everything my our lap every time I asked, I wouldn’t learn or grow in my faith. I may even begin to think I deserve that type of treatment.
I’m still struggling with this idea, so I don’t have all of the answers. But I’ve noticed at many points during my life, that God has waited until I am at a breaking point — ready to surrender to His will — before He has intervened. Maybe He waits until I am ready for Him to intervene in the way that He thinks is best, instead of on my terms. I often tell God what He needs to do.
Just like yesterday (when I was ready to surrender to the heat and the repairman showed up), when I surrender my will to God, that’s often when I see amazing things start to happen.
Now a gentle cool breeze is wafting through my house. I pray that God’s spirit is gently caressing your life in the same way.
Tomorrow I will share another tale of surrender. It seems to be a recurring theme in my life. What about you?