If you remember my laws and commands and obey them, I will give you rains at the right season; the land will produce crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing will continue until the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will continue until it is time to plant. Then you will have plenty to eat and live safely in your land. Leviticus 26:3-5

At the end of the last post, I asked When has the timing of life not been what you would have preferred or chosen? and promised to share a story.

I was flying from St. Louis to San Diego through Chicago, connecting with a friend in Chicago for the second leg of the flight. I don’t allow much extra time when arriving at my ‘home” airport in St. Louis but soon found I’d have plenty of time, because my first flight was delayed because of fog in Chicago. I decided to make the best of it. I had a book to review, so I grabbed a Starbucks and settled in.

My phone buzzed. Lisa was delayed as well. Her turnaround time in Chicago would be quick, so she looked into a later flight to San Diego “just in case.” When my flight continued to be delayed, she encouraged me to do the same. However, I was assured by the gate agent that the plane I’d be taking from Chicago was also delayed, so we’d “definitely arrive in time.”

My flight eventually departed, and as we approached Chicago, I heard my next departure gate information. I’d have at least 30 minutes to transition to the next terminal considering the time the gate agent estimated as our updated departure time. No problem. We had another delay as we were pulling into our gate, but I was excited to hear our arrival gate matched my departure gate. I’d have time to get something to eat.

I got off the plane and looked at the gate’s board to check the departure time. This gate said La Guardia, not San Diego. I rushed to a departure screen, hoping I wouldn’t have to go far to my new gate, but my flight wasn’t listed. Assuming my original flight had already left, I checked the next flight the San Diego and headed to the departure gate to solve the issue. At least yet another delay also meant time to eat.

My phone buzzed. Lisa made it onto our original flight and wanted to know if I was on board. What? That meant she was still on the ground! I looked at another departure board and saw the flashing words: FINAL BOARDING! After a moment of directional confusion, I ran to my gate, and the airline agent closed the door behind me. Whew!

How do you handle delays? (Do you focus on the end result in anticipation for the end of the delay? Can you rest in the delay? Be productive in the delay? Grow through the delay? Do you become complacent in the delay?)

When has God worked in a delay of your life, and how will you allow him to work in future delays?

I wait for the Lord to help me, and I trust his word. Psalm 130:5

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