Psalm 106:12 
But they soon forgot what he had done 
and did not wait for his plan to unfold. (NIV)

—

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, that wonderful chapter on love, true love, that love keeps no record of wrongs. This is not only a delightful truth, but it’s also good instruction as well. Some things you should not remember, at least aloud. 

On the other hand, there are those things that you should remember forever. This particular psalm is a remembrance of what happened on Israel’s journey from captivity in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. It reminds us of that forty-year journey and some of its highs and lows. 

Some of the most spectacular miracles of God heretofore recorded occurred during that forty-year window. You’ve seen Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, and hopefully you’ve seen Stephen Spielberg’s The Prince of Egypt. This is the question the author of this particular psalm was pondering:  how in the world could they forget God’s powerful response, his amazing intervention during that long season? 

His words here in this verse are particularly damning. They forgot what God had just done. They did not wait on God as he unfolded his glorious plan for them. 

I had what seems like an annual surgery just about three weeks ago. It was a simple thing: a little snip here, a little trim there, some stitches and Steri-Strips. Not a big deal at all. 

Not a big deal at all, except that I can’t lift more than 15 pounds for five more weeks. Do you know how much our local granddaughters weigh? I drove myself to the doctor last Friday. That required a nap to recover. Two days ago, I drove myself to another doctor that also required a recovery nap. I was still so wiped out yesterday that I did not get even one productive thing done that I wanted to do. 

It’s really easy to give in to the temptation to cut corners at this point. However, the doctor told me when I met him the first time before surgery, and again on the day of surgery, and again at our meeting after surgery last week, that twenty percent of these particular surgeries have to be redone. I do not want to have to redo this surgery. 

I do not want to soon forget what had to be done three weeks ago. I will wait for the plan to unfold. And as I’ve mentioned before, like Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, “I hate waiting.”

My bride is listening to Corrie ten Boom’s book, The Hiding Place, again. One of my favorite quotes from Corrie is this one:

“If God sends us on stony paths, He will provide us with strong shoes.”

I am thankful for strong shoes. 

I’ve got some shoes that look good with a suit, but they’re not the kind of shoes you want to wear all day, every day. You don’t want to wear them if you’re going to take a nice brisk walk. You don’t want to wear them if you’re going to do yard work. You don’t want to wear them if you’re confined to the house and can’t go anywhere without a very narrow purpose. 

It’s good to know you’ve got those hard shoes when you need them. This is a hard-shoe season for me. Five more weeks of stony paths. 

How well are you at remembering all the great things God has done in your life? Hard times come to all of us, and in those hard times, it’s good to have a list of all the good things God has done for us. It’s also good to remind ourselves that what he started, he will finish, and that the end of the story is better than its beginning. 

The wait for God’s full plan to unfold builds anticipation guaranteed to dissolve into delight. Some things are worth waiting for. God’s unfolding plans are always worth the wait. Also, rumor has it that there are no stony paths in heaven. 

—

I will remember the good things God has done for me, and I will wait for His plan to unfold in His timing, in His way. 

—

Our Father, thank you that your will and your ways are worth the wait. Good things come to those who wait on you. Good things come to those who wait on you and do not hesitate when you say, “Go.” Good things wait for those who follow the doctor’s instructions. Help me to wait well in this season of recovery. Give me strong shoes for the hikes ahead. Give me running shoes for that wonderful season beyond. Amen.