Adelaide is set to get its own Amazon distribution centre.

In just a few months, cars will be buzzing across the city delivering a whole range of items as part of the company’s Uber-style delivery service. And with it, wait times for online orders are meant to decrease dramatically.

As the global retail giant and it’s almost time-bending delivery systems hit our beautiful city, so will the ongoing desire for people to get what they want, when they want it – which usually means ‘now’.

I can think of numerous occasions when I’ve ordered something online (or mistakenly told my children that the grandparents have sent them something) and the delivery just never seems to turn up.

It starts with excited anticipation; every vehicle that stops outside could be the courier and the letterbox gets checked a couple of times every day. But, as time winds on and our excitement dies, we stop looking so eagerly or checking so frequently.

Our actions, thoughts and feelings are changed by the weight of our crushed expectations. We’re just not very good at waiting.

In Luke 19, Jesus tells his followers a story about the servants of a Nobleman who leaves for a distant land to be crowned king. Before he departs, he gives 10 servants about 3-months wages to use in his absence.

When the new King returns sometime later it becomes obvious some servants waited differently to others. Some had made 5 or 10 times the money they were given. One of them had done nothing more than buried it in the ground.

Needless to say, the new King was not overly pleased with the man that did nothing with what he had been given. And he was even less pleased with those who declared they did not want to be ruled by the new King at all.

Jesus told this story shortly before He entered Jerusalem – and He told it for a very specific reason. Luke even notes in verse 11 that Jesus ‘told this parable because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.’

Many of Jesus’ followers expected Him to enter Jerusalem and establish a new political and social system free from Rome within days. That was never part of the plan.

With this story Jesus wanted to reset their expectations – to pull them back from the ‘next day delivery’ mindset and encourage them to wait – and wait well for His true Kingdom to be established.

I think that’s something all of us can learn to do better – whether it’s waiting for a delivery, or a child to reach a milestone or gain a skill; waiting for news both good or bad; or, waiting for Jesus’ return.

Because waiting well is not wasted time, nor is it inaction. As Jesus’ story shows, waiting well means persevering, hoping, and striving no matter how much time passes.

You never know when that package will show up at your door.