Have you ever felt like you have waited too long? Have you ever just got tired of doing the right thing? Have you ever just wanted to cut loose and say "Whatever?" Many singles settle for Mr. or Ms. Wrong because they got tired of waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right. Many have decided to make some "easy" money or "get the credit they deserved" because they were tired of saving up for the things they wanted now.

Numbers chapter 14 of the Holy Bible gives the account of how Joshua and Caleb who pleased the Lord by bringing back a good report but still had to wander in the wilderness for forty years along with those who were being punished for not believing God. I have read this passage many times before; but, this time it bothered me. I wondered how they could have waited so faithfully and kept a passionate expectation for forty years!

I felt like God gave me the answer:

"Each day they choose to believe me. Step by step they walked with me. They didn’t think about the forty years. They lived in the moment ever loving me and learning from me."

Jesus said: "He that comes after me must deny himself, pick-up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) Your cross may be something that you must bear that you don’t really deserve or it may be something you brought on yourself. It doesn’t matter because now that you are in Christ, He empowers you to carry your cross daily. The "daily" life of the believer is a consistent life; day in and day out—steadily moving forward. Not allowing the pace or lack of pace to upset him because he remembers that the race is not won by endurance and consistency. (1 Corinthians 9:23-27)

Tom Seaver’s philosophy on baseball is a fitting quote for how the believer should live. ". . . strive for consistency, not to worry about the numbers. If you dwell on statistics you get shortsighted . . . ." (New York Times, 1976)

Scripture tells us that we can move ahead by "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. " (Hebrews 12:2) You may feel that you are moving at a slow pace but remember that God is looking for people who will look to Him and stay on the path. Jesus could have called legions of angels to rescue Him from the cross but He stayed on the cross; he endured the pain and shame for us. Now we who have received from Christ the gift of salvation have been empowered to endure as well. God is calling you to walk with Him daily. Will you answer the call?