Driving across town to do a simple errand I was late.  Every stop light seemed to be just turning red as I approached.  Every light brought on a small incremental growth of frustration.  Call it happenstance, coincidence or luck, but I came upon three green lights in a row.  My countenance lightened as the journey came to an end.  Pulling into the parking lot of my destination I realized I was on time for my appointment.

I have personally experienced instantaneous healings.  I have also heard testimonies of God healing people in a single moment of faith.  But as often as not it was preceded by months or years of faithful praying for that breakthrough. The world I live in has become an instant soup kind of world.  Microwaves, 260 channels on widescreen televisions provide entertainment with a push of a button on a remote control. Today’s culture has embraced the instant, and sometimes we forget the importance of persistence and our Biblical mandate to not give up when the going gets tough.

Before the beginning of the world, there was a plan for Jesus to come into this world. But when the day came for Mary to give birth there was no room in the inn. You would think if God had this perfect plan of bringing the savior to the world he could have made reservations.  Even in promises, even in the promises of God, there will be challenges.  Even when God is in something, problems can and following the reservation less Jesus, often will present themselves.

We look at our local churches and fully expect that if God is in something, it’ll work out perfectly.  But sometimes it does not.  Some Churches do not thrive, some even shut their doors, years of prayers and hopes seemingly unheard.

But they are just stop lights in our paths. Sometimes it takes a long time for God to act suddenly.