Delayed Gratification > Instant Gratification

Last Sunday I listened to a sermon called “Delayed Gratification”. Bishop talked about how instant gratification has taken priority in our lives. We want instant “likes”, “follows” and go viral videos. If we can’t lose weight by pulling away and working it off, we take a pill, a shake, wanting it instantly. We have become a society that cannot save for something, we want it now so let’s finance it or put it on the credit card and worry about it later.

But just like a tree that grows fast, it will not last. Anything that grows slow will last long. If your business takes off overnight, you don’t have time to plan, you don’t know which direction to go when something explodes. But more than anything, you don’t appreciate it when it is instant. Digging or building a goldmine is appreciated more than buying one.

Last week the Braves won the World Series after 26 years of trying. For 26 years they worked, they tried 100 different ways to win and when they finally figured it out they were more appreciative than if they won the year before last.

That’s how it works with God. He allows seasons of growing slow, through work, trial and error, through hard times so that when it’s time to win, we will appreciate it. If we can’t hang with him during the suffering and keep the faith then we don’t deserve the prize. Dying on the cross was the suffering that Jesus did for 3 days to get the prize of forgiveness, love, grace, and healing.

I’m trying to remember this on my hard days. During the seasons when I feel forsaken. Just because you feel like you’re in the dark doesn’t mean you’re dead and buried. Seeds are buried everyday and they are alive. Know that the plant will bloom, the team will win, the people will like, delayed gratification is on the way. Keep working, trying, growing, and keep the faith.