What are we waiting for?

I just read this article at the "Gifted for leadership" site. It made me think of what I journalled about this morning.

Luke 19:1-10 is the story of Zacchaeus - the tax collector. Verses 3-4 says 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (NIV)

Zacchaeus was faced with a problem. He knew he wanted to see Jesus, he knew he was at the right place at the right time, he knew this was his opportunity but he also knew that he was too short and circumstances were against him.

This is sometimes like us in the church. We know we want people to see Jesus, we know we're in the right place at the right time and we know we have the opportunity to make a difference but that sometimes our situation and circumstances are against us. When we're faced with those situations our first response is often to pray and ask God to remove the obstacles for us or to discern what God want us to do in a particular situation, or wait until we hear God's leading. I'm not saying this is wrong but I wonder if sometimes we do these things so we don't have to take responsibility for the situation we find ourselves in. (This is different to trusting God)

Zacchaeus could have prayed that God would miraculously make him taller, he could have prayed for the crowd of people to part at the most opportune time. He could have hoped that if he stood his ground, somehow, as Jesus passed, he would see Zacchaeus in the crowd...it would be fate....it was meant to be.... Alternatively Zacchaeus could have grumbled about the unfair state of affairs that there are too many tall people in the world and why did God have to make him short?!

Instead, Zacchaeus used his initiative and he climbed a tree. There was no miracle, no leading from God, no bringing about justice to a bad situation. He climbed a tree, he saw Jesus and his life was transformed.

Sometimes we have to stop praying for a miracle or divine intervention and actually get up and do something ourselves. We need to stop grumbling about our situation and do something about it. It doesn't mean we've stopped trusting God or we aren't listening to God. Sometimes when we are faced with a tough situation we need to be active and be the change that we need.