If your mother wants to hold your hand, there’s probably a good reason.
-- Cynthia Copeland Lewis, “Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me”

“There’s a lot of traffic whizzing by,” you proclaim to your mother who is holding your hand as you and she wait to cross the street. “Everybody’s quickly headed this way and that way; not even slowing down for a pit stop,” you continue. “Everybody’s traveling at what feels like the speed of light, and nobody’s making any room for us to jump in so we can get where we’re going.” You think to yourself all you really want to do is get to the other side but, right now, it looks virtually impossible to do that. And, geez, it seems you’ve been waiting for a very long time. In fact, you think, you’ve been waiting too long. “Mama,” you say, “can’t we just step down off the curb and run really fast?” Of course, mom, who actually understands your haste, decides to remain silent. Yet she grips your hand a little tighter sending you the message that says “hold on, we will cross soon; just be patient.”

Soon, you’re tired and irritated with waiting for the traffic to cease or slow down and you begin to think this traffic is not stopping on purpose. It sees you trying to get over there but it just doesn’t want you to get there. Can’t it see it’s keeping you from moving forward, that old stinky traffic? You start plotting against the traffic, yelling at it, calling it selfish and greedy. A couple of times – when mama wasn’t looking – you shot it a few hand gestures, which did cause it to slow up but not stop long enough for you to cross. After that, traffic actually seemed to speed up and further ignore your yells and obscenities. “Humph,” you finally determine, “I’ll just stay on this side forever.” Then, just as you got still and calmed yourself, mama firmly grasped your hand, looked both ways, said “come on,” then unflinchingly led you across to the other side.

As an adult, there are times when there’s far too much traffic in your life for you to move forward. Perhaps you need to work through your finances before you can receive the blessing of more money. Maybe you’ve got to work out some issues of commitment and feelings of inadequacy before you can receive the blessing of an honorable mate. Maybe you need to trust God in yourself before you can actually step out on your own and claim what’s yours. Whatever the traffic in your life, you’ve got to wait with patience for it to clear. No yelling. No cursing. No road rage.

And, while you’re waiting, you can guarantee God’s holding your hand with a firm and guiding grip. You can be assured that Jesus is covering, anointing, and equipping you for your opportunities on the other side of the traffic. And, He won’t guide you over before it’s time. You can try to run on through the traffic, but know, if you let go of God’s hand, you’ll probably get run over.

Like mama, God knows that we need to wait, that we need to watch and look both ways. Like mama, God knows we need to be developed and shaped in order to handle what’s happening or what’s coming our way over there. God assures us while we’re waiting that we’re secure and we need to and can lean into His hands.

Honor the waiting and the grip of God’s perfect hands while waiting. In due time, God will let you know when you’re ready to cross the street.

Sadiqqa © 2007