Patiently Waiting

The first few minutes were interesting enough. As we all sat on the plane bound for Cebu, we wondered what was keeping the pilot from flying off. At that point, we all had become fidgety and quite impatient (but I was trying to compose myself). Thirty minutes later, the intercom finally buzzed: "We apologize for the inconvenience, but we had to shut down the airport. Our president has just boarded a plane bound for somewhere down south. This is something we can't control. We don't know when we will fly off."

There was a little bit of mumbling and a little bit of shock, particularly from that last sentence. We were worried because we had a connecting flight bound for Surigao, and we were afraid we wouldn't make it.

But just as the pilot said those words, his voice immediately came back: "We will now be taking off." Thank God!

As I relaxed once again, I realized that this now became a moment of pure trust. The pilot's words echoed through my ear: "This is something we can't control." Yes, indeed, this was something he can't control because he probably didn't know that the president was boarding a plane. He didn't know that we would be delayed.

And yet, there is One who knew this was going to happen. As God is in control of everything, He knows that somehow little interruptions or delays such as this one often makes us worried and concerned. But it is through such situations that He teaches us patience and perseverance - and how we react to it. Sometimes in life, there are things that we want to happen right away - an approved Visa application, finding our God's Best, getting a higher salary or others. We want it done right now!

But God is never in a hurry, but He is always in time. When I look back at that little flight delay, I find myself laughing. Because when we finally boarded our flight to Surigao (yes, we had to run through the airport), the plane not only had to wait for us but for 27 other people who were with us on the plane bound for Cebu.

See how God tests us?

HABAKKUK 2:3, "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail . Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay."