Wait Three Days….
I can be impulsive sometimes. I guess I’m better than I used to be, but those personality traits of mine come back as I say “yes” to yet another thing I don’t have time for or smashing the “buy” button before contemplating for even a moment. Bigger decisions can have more lasting and even devastating consequences by not waiting for a moment, a day, or even three days.
Recently, I was feeling tired and overwhelmed at the end of a long day. We’ve all been there! But, as it often does, I allowed my feelings from one day contemplate the impulsive decision to immediately change something in my life! There I go again! The very next day, I felt immensely better having rested and then all the so-called “problems” I thought I had to solve, weren’t really problems at all! In fact, after several days, my entire perspective changed and I was able to feel truly grateful for my own life’s opportunities!
Decisions, decisions
Now, when I have an important decision to make, I make myself wait … at least a day … before proceeding to commit. But a beautiful friend recently reminded me that Jesus was in the tomb a full three days! I love this! How appropriate to think of our life’s decisions in that way and apply this waiting period to them. Let us wait at least three days before stepping into a path change.
While God had already made the decisions past and present to save mankind, the waiting for … something … was agony for his followers at the time of his crucifixion. They did not comprehend what they were waiting for. They were devastated their beloved rabbi was now gone, having been tortured and died a horrendous death. They were left in fear and utterly alone; or so they thought. Yet, they did not remember their own rabbi had foretold He would rise again after three days. It was recorded in many places and yet, they did not understand that the waiting would only be three days – long enough to meditate upon it and short enough to be a motivating force.
“As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.’ And they were greatly distressed” (Matthew 17:22-23).
“And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise’” (Mark 10:32-34).
If only they remembered His words and comprehended its meaning instead of impulsively fleeing in fear.
Apply the Waiting
But hindsight gives us a full picture as we now have the benefit of the recorded scriptures at our fingertips. If we waited for at least three days for many life decisions, we would simply be better off. If we applied a wait time of three days as the Lord did, impulsivity based upon emotions would surely decrease. It allows us time to pray about it, meditate upon it, ponder the circumstances and step into the change (or not). Many decisions in my life would have been greatly impacted for the better if I had only waited at least three days before making them.
Waiting three days gives us breathing space. We do not have to make a decision this minute. Not only does it allow for clear thought, but it shows others that we cannot be manipulated. It allows us to stop a moment and listen to God’s whispering voice.
Jesus’s disciples panicked and scattered in fear at His death and in doing so, forgot that what they were waiting for was only three days away. Help us, Lord, to wait upon you.
Tonya Noren
April 24, 2022
*The purpose of Women, Wellness & the Word ministry is to inspire and improve our life’s missions based upon the Word of God. Physical and mental health and wellness go hand-in-hand with scripture and vice versa. I hope the blog articles within inspire you. You are not alone.