I watched this video this morning. It shows kids who took part in the marshmallow test. They were put alone in a room with one marshmallow on a plate in front of them. They were told that if they waited for the tester to return without eating the marshmallow they would get another one. Some waited and got two. Some didn’t and settled for one.

God is like that. Sometimes if we will wait he’ll give us the better option than if we just take what is in front of us. I’m a church planter. I started a church in Miami a little over 7 years ago. My ego has always been my battle in this church planting thing. I’ve battled with God. I’ve wanted a growing (in numbers) church and that simply hasn’t happened. It is not because we haven’t been reaching out to people who are far from God, because we have.

I have learned the hard way that this is God’s church not mine. If it grows numerically, it’s because he grows the church. If it declines and we’re doing what we’re supposed to do then I must put that in his hands. He has other plans and other things to teach me and us. I just know that he is in control and he wants what is best for his church. I could settle for the one marshmallow, but that’s not his best. So I’ll persevere and wait on him for his best.

I told my kids as they were growing up not to settle for second best when searching for a spouse but to wait for God’s best. The same lesson applies to our church. We must not settle for one marshmallow but for two. He’s growing our church the way he wants to. I must trust him in that. He’s got something great in store for us.

What about you? Are you settling for one marshmallow or waiting for his best? I encourage you to persevere. His best is coming. Trust God who is sovereign. He knows what he’s doing in your life. Be patient. Endure.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)