Speed

It is common to hear of new year resolutions and plans; people starting off the new season with intense determination and fervor as one who is partaking in a sprint. High motivation and energy prevail, as people set superb goals with impressive timelines.

For many, this is their life’s story: Setting out to achieve certain personal or career milestones at defined points or at a specific age.

While this is not bad in itself, any perception of not being able to reach those goals at the preconceived times may lead to a sense of failure (with other attendant issues like depression). Such issues are especially worsened in the presence of undue comparison with others who are seemingly doing well.

There may also be a feeling of being stuck at certain times in life – or extended periods of little to no physical results which usually births a common prayer to ask God for speed. But how does God’s Word describe speed?

[1] I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.
[2] Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
[3] For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NKJV)

Let’s examine the third verse a bit closely for today; “…Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”

Sounds like quite the brainteaser, that in the same sentence where it asks us to wait though it tarries, it assures us that it will in fact, not tarry.

The New Living Translation says: “…If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”

We are made to see that even when the vision seems slow in coming – even as we wait patiently, it is still most assuredly coming to pass and is not considered a delay. This implies that there is speed, even in waiting, especially when we actively wait on God for His Word or vision to be made manifest in our lives.

As believers, we must not succumb to the intense worldly pressure for instant manifestation or success. Many have, in doing so, taken compromising paths which are hard to recover from and have caused their destruction.

[8] The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
[9] Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

Psalms 32:8-9 (NLT)

A mentor once summarised the verses above for me like this: “Horses will run indiscriminately except they’re held back; Mules will not move except they’re prodded and pushed. Don’t be too fast. Don’t be too slow. Be where God wants you to be per time.”

That is Speed.