Sometimes Slow is Good

There’s a video series called, The Life of Mammals.  In this video, the host climbs a tree to take a close-up look at a three-toed sloth.  A sloth is the world’s slowest moving mammal.  The host explains that going slow is what you do if you eat leaves that are not easily digested and not very nutritious.

Reflect with me back into Israel’s history and the Book of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah tells us that our God is the ultimate example of going slow.  God sustained His people on their journey out of Egypt and gave them the Promised Land (vs.9-15) When the priests of Israel led their people in declaring God to be slow to anger, they were reflecting on a big and ancient story (Exodus 34:5-7). The children of Israel affirmed their trust in God who remained willing and able to help them.  This was something God did even though His people were sinful and had suffered because of the wrongs of their enemies. Israel constantly rebelled but God never stopped loving them.  Nehemiah explained it this way (vs.17), Our Creator is by nature “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”

With General Conference being postponed to 2024, it is a good time to turn to Nehemiah where we see that our God is compassionate and gracious. We may not know the reasons for General Conference being slowed down, but we do know the greatness of God’s heart gives us room to patiently live and love with Him.

Prayer: Father fill us with the spirit of Your graciousness, compassion, mercy, and love.  Slow us down so that others will feel your love.  Amen.

Nehemiah 9:17 – You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Author: Tommy Herndon