Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient, because of the journey. Numbers 21:4 NASB

When I find myself in a crowd of people waiting for the starting gun of a race, I am in no hurry. I don’t wonder when the gun will go off. I don’t even want to hurry up and start. But once the gun goes off…I can find myself wishing the miles away. This is most especially true of a half marathon.

As I begin the miles, I find myself wishing I was on mile 3 or 5 or 7…not mile one. The long journey ahead seems just too far. It is a disgusting attitude to me. I have to remind myself the journey is the adventure. Crossing the finish line, ends the adventure.

I’ve lived life that way too.
Wanting to be sixteen so I could drive.
Have my own home and family.
See Abba God answer prayers I’ve prayed for years.
See that unsaved person come to Christ.
Watch grandchildren become adults.

I never thought this impatience was sinful…maybe it isn’t sinful, but I don’t think it honors Abba.This attitude presupposes discontent. “I’m not where I want to be in life.” “I don’t want what Abba has given me in this life’s season.” Now this attitude looks dreadful.

The word translated “impatient” here is the Hebrew word “qatsar”. It means curtail ,dock off, cut down, much discouraged, grieve, loathe, mourn, reap, straiten, trouble, vex. When I read all those definitions, it gave impatient a whole new ugly look. If I am impatient on my walk with God, certainly I am not walking in faith.

In races, I’ve learned to be patient and settle myself. I look to the first mile and watch people start too fast or too slow…I keep going and see the beautiful surroundings, flowers, trees,or wildlife. I strike up a conversation with a fellow participant and we run together. As I begin to move through the miles, impatience dwindles and the gifts God has placed on the journey become apparent. In every race I find a God gift. I never know who or what it might be.

My impatience can cause me to miss the gift. Impatience can be a great distractor. The moments become precious step by step on the journey as I put impatience away.

We must plan for the future of course, but this very moment we are living in…it’s holy…a holy God gift.