Over the past year, I learned exactly what it means when they say, “there’s a time for everything”. I also learned that I wasn’t as patient as the Lord needed me to be, or even as patient as I needed to be. I said yes to an opportunity that was a blessing for my children and me, but it came with a struggle. That was very confusing to me. I remember mid-year, I was wondering, was this in God’s will? Should I have taken this opportunity? Why was this transition so difficult? Why did God bring me here if he knew I would struggle?
I complained. I cried. I complained and cried.
I almost felt like giving up, but then I didn’t know what that would look like—giving up on my children? Don’t want to do that. Stop trusting God and go back to my old ways? Don’t want to do that either. So, the best option was for me to hold on, remain hopeful, celebrate those around me being blessed, stay in my word, and stay in prayer. Sometimes that prayer was, "God, please help me." That’s all I could muster up to say.
Then the HOLY SPIRIT changed my mindset. I was in the year of “the struggle,” but GOD kept me the whole time. I looked back and saw all of the times when things could have gone wrong, fell through the cracks, went dark, all the things. He was carrying me through it all. But because I was complaining, instead of being grateful for all the ways he was showing up in my life, I missed it. I missed about six months of celebrating God’s goodness because there were so many things I was waiting for, and I felt like I should have had them already! Lord, please forgive me.
One of the hardest or most challenging things about this walk with Christ is when the answer is no or not now because he has something better in store for you. I know that may sound cliché, but it’s the truth, the word says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11” God is a promise keeper; he is a God that shall not lie. Therefore, we can rest in the knowledge that his word will come to fruition. God is solid and dependable. He is very present; it may not come in the package or in the specific order you prefer, but it’s going to be EXACTLY what you need, when you need it. You’re going to look back and be hyped up about how your desires and mindset changed, and how God gave you what you needed. It’s all for your protection.
When we surrender our lives to Christ, it doesn’t mean that God will start pouring down new houses, clothes, job promotions, etc. It means we start the journey of denying our flesh, we start changing our mindset to align with God, we start changing our desires, and we gain hope and trust in the Lord. Hope and trust are NEEDED in your waiting season.
If you’re waiting for something right now, you feel like God is ignoring your desires…he’s not. His plans for you are much greater than the plans you have for yourself. You’re in the character-building stage, that’s what I like to call it. You have told God yes…now it’s time to become more like him—patient, caring, loving, honorable, trustworthy, courageous, and kind. During your waiting season, all of this will be put to the test. You’ll come out on the other side because, as the word says, God will never leave you nor forsake you. Those are all facts. For you to become who God has called you to be, you have to go through things. Some things are more difficult than others; I don’t say this lightly because everyone has their own journey and struggles. But what I do know is that God is faithful, he is just, he is a redeemer, he is a healer, he is a comforter, he is kind, he is patient, and he loves his children.
I encourage you to take a step back and find God in all of the struggles that you’ve had and are currently having. He’s there, in big and small moments.
SCRIPTURES ON WAITING ON THE LORD:
- In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3
- I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27:13-14
- Wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5
- I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. Psalm 119.166
SONG OF THE WEEK
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