God is good, but God is slow. We trust in God’s plan. We believe that virtue will be rewarded and evil will be punished. But we get tired of waiting for it to happen.

The prophet Habakkuk says God has given a vision that we can easily read. But the vision may not be fulfilled soon. It works in its own time. Still, it will press on to its fulfillment, and it will not disappoint those who hope in it. “If it delays,” the prophet says, “wait for it. It will surely come.” But it can take a while.

Faith is what happens while we wait on a slow God. We believe because we have experienced God’s love and mercy throughout our lives. We rely on the one who alone can fulfill our desires. We trust that God wants goodness as much as we do. But the waiting is still hard.

“How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen!” says Habakkuk. Actually, God does listen. God longs to hear our [prayers. God wants righteousness even more than we do. God will deliver, but the vision has its own time. God asks only one thing of us: patience born from faith.

Written by Paul Turner. Liturgy Training Publications
Copyright 2003, Archdiocese of Chicago