CHANGE IS NOT FAST

Joining with other writers today at Five Minute Friday, where we write on a theme word for five minutes.  

Today's theme word is FAST

"Faster, faster", said the pastor.

I remember saying that little rhyme to my older girls when I wanted them to get a move on with their chores or learning their lessons.

Sometimes it was because they were stuffing around, and sometimes it was because I was being impatient.

But God is not impatient with me when He wants me to work through something, when He asks for change, when He wants me to learn something. 

Perhaps that's because He knows that learning and change can't happen fast. 

It takes time to change, to be changed, to really be transformed. 

It takes time to learn new ways of thinking and seeing. 

It takes time to heal from deep wounds.

Caterpillars don't become butterflies easily or fast.

That's not to say He doesn't put the pressure on for change and growth.  He certainly knows how to do that.   

That pressure seems to me to be like the constant lapping of waves on the shore.

Whenever I get close to the ocean, like I did last week, I am reminded that His love is constant, never ending, often powerful, but mostly gentle.  

Sometimes the waves come in fast and hit with force, but mostly it's just that gentle, constant pressure - lapping, lapping, lapping, like new mercies every day.

He doesn't demand fast results but like the waves, His love is persistent and patient and quietly powerful.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22, 23

Your Spirit is a gentleman
Standing at my hidden doors within
Where You wait for me to let You in
So You can set me free
Your Spirit is a wrecking ball
Tearing through my rebel walls
One by one I watch them fall
Til You are all I see

Oh... You're the life in me
Oh... You're the air I breathe
Oh... You're the change in me
You're the change in me