Every fortnight people from a farming background, or who have a heart for the countryside in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, offer a personal reflection on faith and rural life. They hope that you will be encouraged by it.

I have to confess, patience has never been one of my virtues. By nature I’m impatient. I might even be guilty of praying, ‘Lord make me more patient… and do it now!’

Waiting is something farmers understand better than most. We wait for the rain to stop - or to start. We wait for the ground to dry up to get livestock out or to get machinery on it. We wait for calves to be born, for lambs to stand, for barley to ripen, for prices to rise, for machinery parts to arrive, for the weather to give us just one good day.

We sow seed but we cannot rush its germination. We cannot force a seed potato to sprout, or a stalk to grow. We cannot expect a harvest without waiting. Yet, God has rewarded us again by providing another harvest - potatoes to dig, wheat to combine, vegetables to bring in.

We have to wait after the showers for a rainbow to appear

placeholder image — We have to wait after the showers for a rainbow to appear

This is the rhythm God has built into creation - whether in the field or in our life. But waiting is not easy. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was only in my fifties and had lots of stuff on my plate. I faced long weeks of waiting in a hospital ward, recovering from surgery to remove major parts of my insides impacted by cancer. Every day seemed like a week. My question was often, ‘how long until I can go home?’ Then treatment… more waiting! I am conscious that some of you reading this fully understand what I mean.

Maybe waiting is your trial at the moment? Too much time to sit. Too much time to see things you want to do, but can’t. Too much time to think. Waiting is not a sign of failure. Waiting is the sign of someone who understands God’s timing. Waiting is the soil where faith grows. Waiting is the season where character deepens. Waiting is the place where God prepares us for what He has already prepared for us.

When I was growing up, I was once terribly late for the morning school bus. How thankful I was to see that bus still waiting for me at the end of the lane! All I could do was splutter ‘sorry’ and ‘thanks’ to the driver as I boarded the bus.

Is it possible that so far in our lives, we have been so busy that we have never stopped to realise God has been waiting for us all along? Waiting to get our attention. Waiting for us to come to Him. Could our waiting time now be a time to realise God is waiting for us?

His waiting is not just about patience; it’s an active love that seeks us out, no matter how far we’ve strayed, no matter our past. “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). My boyish words to a kind old bus driver: ‘sorry’ and ‘thanks’, fit here too. Come to God, saying ‘sorry’ - for ignoring Him, for doing what displeased Him, and then say ‘thanks’ for sending Jesus to take my blame and to offer me forgiveness and eternal life. Waiting time needn’t be wasted time.

Ian was brought up on a dairy farm near Limavady. He was a minister in Ballyroney and Drumlee congregations in south Down, and latterly Moneydig Presbyterian in County Londonderry. Due to a serious cancer diagnosis, Ian has had to retire from active ministry and now provides counselling and support to others with cancer.

If you would like to talk to someone about any of the issues raised in this article, please email Rev Kenny Hanna, PCI’s Rural Chaplain at [email protected] or call him on 07938 488 372.