Do you ever look at all the challenges, and heartache, and sin in the world and think to yourself, “Lord, if you’re planning to come back and set things right, it feel like now would be a good time to do it!”?

Well, if you do feel that way every once in a while, you’re in good company. Back in the Old Testament, one of the psalmists was asking, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget us forever?” (Ps. 13:1) And even in the New Testament church, there were folks who wondered, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” (2 Pet. 3:1)

But in today’s word from 2^nd Peter Chapter 3, we get a little reminder about why it’s taking so long. “But don’t forget this one thing,” the apostle Peter says. “With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 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.” (vs. 8-9)

You see, when we look at the world and see situations that we want somebody to fix, God looks at the world and sees people He wants to redeem. And that’s a good thing! Because if God swooped in dramatically and got rid of everybody who’s heart was tainted by sin, chances are that just about all of us would be deserving of judgment. But God is patient. And that’s why He sent Jesus to call us back into fellowship with Himself.

So today, let’s pray for this broken world. And let’s be thankful that, until Jesus comes, we’ve got a chance to receive and to share His mercy. Amen.