Make Haste Slowly

Jerusha
Apr 1, 2020
2 min read

I spent the last two weeks of social / spatial distancing in the company of the Rabbit from Alice in the Wonderland, except it is pink and not white. It sits at the corner of my laptop with a pocket-watch as big as itself, and reminds me to "MAKe HaSte SLoWLy."

Make Haste. I want to. Slowly. I have no choice. I can't overtake the tortoise in front of me while maintaining the 6-feet-distance rule.

I come from a culture that values a sense of urgency. I am also accustomed to instant gratification. Yet with this pandemic, fast is deadly, and the way to fight it well is to slow down. In fact, hurry up and do nothing. It is infuriating.

Then I read Gordon T. Smiths' book, Courage and Calling. In it, he pointed out that we often think something worth doing must be acted upon immediately. The sooner something happens the better. But real courage is qualified by patience. "God works slowly....He is never in a hurry." (Chapter 8: Courage and Character, "Patience")

Wait, really? Doesn't the Bible say somewhere that He would be quick to save? No.

What it does say is that God is quick to forgive, slow to anger. Thank God.

But the Psalmist does repeatedly pray for God to make haste:

"Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, LORD, to help me." -- Psalms 70:1 (NIV)

What's the use of asking God to hurry up if we know He works slowly?

Because God is never late, and His steadfast love is great, but we are the impatient ones.

King Saul was impatient and bungled up by taking over Samuel's role as the priest. He did so because he was afraid his men would abandon him. Conversely, God promised David the throne, yet David patiently waited for his time and spared Saul's life twice at the threat to his own life. Saul failed in waiting for days, David succeeded in waiting for years, because he trusted in the steadfast God.

God may act slowly, but He is timely. Praying keeps us patient while remembering His faithfulness. Also, God does act when we pray.

Question is, do we trust Him enough to make haste slowly?

"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy on me;

show your strength in behalf of your servant;

save me, because I serve you

just as my mother did.

Give me a sign of your goodness,

that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me."

--Pslams 86: 15-17 (NIV)