Why is waiting on God's timing so difficult? Why do I always question why He makes me wait for answers to prayers, especially the ones I pray unselfishly for others? What is He trying to accomplish?
I think at the heart of this question, that I will, no doubt spend my life struggling with, lies a lack of faith in His providence. He has never once given me an answer that in hindsight was not it my best interest. The problem is not with His answer; it is with my perception and my incessant need to have what I want, when I want it. After all, I know what I can handle right?? WRONG!! As I look back over the times where God has told me "no" or "not yet," it has always been better for me than what I thought I needed or wanted. So why do I seem to default to begging Him to agree that I am right? I mean, that is what it boils down to. I try to reason with God that I know what I need better than he does. Oh me, of little faith.
You see God truly desires good things for His children. In Matthew 6: 25-34 He implores us not to worry or be anxious for anything. It is not His will that we go about our day anxiety ridden, worrying about what is or is not happening to us. When we worry, we doubt, and that doubt can lead us to believing that God doesn't care. I know I have struggled with thinking that I am being punished when He tells me "no" or "not yet" but in reality what might seem like a punishment, is really a blessing. I must hold strong to the plan He has for my life, not the one I try to convince Him is better for me. One of my favorite lyrics in Avalon's song, Dreams I Dream For You, is "You've read one page, I know the story. The story of my life is something I must let God author otherwise I will spend my life feeling disappointed.
So what exaclty is He trying to accomplish? He desires to grow me in my faith so that when circumstances arise in my life, I am armed and ready with His word, which is full of His promises. Psalm 37:4 states, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I often look at this verse and used it to plea with God, asking Him why He answered no, when He promises to give me the desires of my heart. The key to my misinterpretation is in the first part of the verse. "Delight yourself of the Lord..." If, I am honest, I have noticed that those times when He has said "no" or "not yet," I was confusing God's desire for my life with my own personal desire. Now, I can pray for something that truly is a desire of my heart, but if I am more intent on the outcome rather than trusting God, His timing and wanting what will ultimately glorify Him, then I am not delighting myself in the Lord. I am delightling myself in me and my desire to have what I want, now.
My dear friends, waiting is never easy, but as I look back over my life and examine the many times God has proven that He knows what is best for me, I have found that His timing is ALWAYS worth the wait.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
A Journey Begins
Tonight I had the JOY of spending time with some wonderful girlfriends in a bible study. The topic, Joy and Praise. My dear friend Christina had us dive into the scriptures for a closer look at joy and what it meant to us. We referred to a conversation Christ is having with His disciples in John 16:16-24 and discover yet another time when Christ says something profound and the disciples look at each other and go, "what did He say?" My interpretation. Of course Christ, knows what they are whispering responds,
19 "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (ESV)
What stood out to me, other than the birthing reference - after all, I am a woman; was when Christ stated that, "No one will take your joy away from you." When I got home tonight I started thinking about all the times in my life I allowed someone or something to rob me of my joy. Too many times, I hate to admit which made me ask myself, why? Why do I let people or circumstances beyond my control, rob me of my joy? Simply put - I let down my guard and forget Who is in control. I take the focus off of Him and place it onto myself or others or the circumstance - all of which have let me down more than once in my life.
After this passage we moved forward to James 1:2-18. I encourage you to read all of it but I am only going to focus on verses 2-4.
2"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (ESV)
This passage is one I have read many times in my life but tonight I found myself clinging to the words as if they were water and I was dying of thirst. James states it clear as day, "when you meet trials." It is just a fact of life. We will meet trials of many kinds but our faith in Christ will allow us to persevere and overcome the situation. Not only will we overecome it but God will use it for something beautiful. We must keep our eyes on Him so that when we encounter these trials we can hold on to that joy and not let the person or circumstance steal it. After all, that is exactly what the enemy would want. He wants to rob us of our joy, the complete and perfect joy that is only found in Jesus.
As I wrap this up, I wanted to leave you with one final thought. What is robbing you of your joy? Is it a relationship, a job, a prayer that seems to go unanswered? Whatever it might be I encourage you to bow your head and give it up. Let the One who has conquered the world reveal HIS purpose for you, take that circumstance on His shoulders and replace it with a joy that no one will ever take from you.
19 "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (ESV)
What stood out to me, other than the birthing reference - after all, I am a woman; was when Christ stated that, "No one will take your joy away from you." When I got home tonight I started thinking about all the times in my life I allowed someone or something to rob me of my joy. Too many times, I hate to admit which made me ask myself, why? Why do I let people or circumstances beyond my control, rob me of my joy? Simply put - I let down my guard and forget Who is in control. I take the focus off of Him and place it onto myself or others or the circumstance - all of which have let me down more than once in my life.
After this passage we moved forward to James 1:2-18. I encourage you to read all of it but I am only going to focus on verses 2-4.
2"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (ESV)
This passage is one I have read many times in my life but tonight I found myself clinging to the words as if they were water and I was dying of thirst. James states it clear as day, "when you meet trials." It is just a fact of life. We will meet trials of many kinds but our faith in Christ will allow us to persevere and overcome the situation. Not only will we overecome it but God will use it for something beautiful. We must keep our eyes on Him so that when we encounter these trials we can hold on to that joy and not let the person or circumstance steal it. After all, that is exactly what the enemy would want. He wants to rob us of our joy, the complete and perfect joy that is only found in Jesus.
As I wrap this up, I wanted to leave you with one final thought. What is robbing you of your joy? Is it a relationship, a job, a prayer that seems to go unanswered? Whatever it might be I encourage you to bow your head and give it up. Let the One who has conquered the world reveal HIS purpose for you, take that circumstance on His shoulders and replace it with a joy that no one will ever take from you.
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