Have you ever heard of the ‘marshmallow test’? A group of psychologists from Stamford University did this test on a group of four year olds a few decades ago. The child was left in a room with a marshmallow and told that if they eat it, it will be the only one they get. However, if they don’t eat it, they will get an extra one when the doctor comes back into the room. The children developed all kinds of tricks to avoid eating it…sitting on their hands, singing, and even licking the table around the marshmallow. Some children, of course, couldn’t wait and ate it anyways.
After this test was done, the researches followed this group of children into adolescence. The grabbers were found to be more hesitant and indecisive, more easily frustrated and more resentful about not getting enough. They found that the ones that could wait were more socially competent, better able to handle stress and less likely to give in under pressure than those who couldn’t wait.
Which one do you think you would be? I know that I am horrible at waiting. Once I decide I want something…I want it now! That’s why it took God so long to get me to the mission field. I had many lessons to learn in the process. I had to wait to get the answers to my prayers. Little did I know what the answers would be. Never did I imagine that I would come to Africa as a missionary! Yet, that was God’s plan all along. Who is to know what the future holds? I can’t see anything past the next week. It is scary and exhilarating at the same time!!!!
‘The waiting times,’ said a philosopher, ‘are the times that try men’s souls.’ The ability to wait says more about our spirituality than almost any other thing. Many of us fail at the waiting test. This is when our faith is tested the most…and we can’t do it. What are you waiting for? Don’t give up!
Psalm 5:3…”in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Isaiah 40:31 says, ” But those who wait on The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall run and not faint.”
Leave a Reply