When Your Scheduled Arrival Has Been Delayed
Waiting for your break-through can be one of the most difficult things in the whole world. Some are waiting on that special someone to sweep them off their feet and take their hand in marriage. There are others who may be waiting on that promotion that they’ve worked so very hard to obtain. While others are waiting patiently for a love one to return home.
Whatever we are waiting patiently for, the hallway period can cause unwanted anxiety and frustration if we do not have a strong support group to turn to or a firm spiritual foundation to stand upon.
I can recall a time in my prayer life, I would petition the Lord for such things as;
The wisdom of Solomon"
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? I Kings 3:9”
The Faith of Abraham"
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Hebrews 11:8”
The character of Job
“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1”
The courage of Joshua
“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5”
All of these prayers were sincere in nature, however, when the testing of my faith meet its challenges, the trails, tribulations and adversities were often overwhelming and I sincerely wanted to renounce my petitions unto the Lord.
‘Dear Lord, please take this suffering and hardship away from me,
I can’t take anymore.’
Talk about being careful for what you pray for!
You see, somewhere along my journey of perseverance, I forgot my former oaths. I mean…. I meant what I prayed for, but I wanted my growth into wisdom, instantaneous. My Faith full blown right then and there. The Patience I desired, I surely didn’t want it to come with endurance. And, the courage that I was seeking for defined an immediate strength to dive right into whatever it was that I needed to bull doze over!
So, when the testing of my faith arrived and spiritual sanctification kicked in, Whoaaaaa, was it a major reality check. God was giving me just want I asked for and it didn’t feel good. The pruning, cutting away, confronting and confessing became almost too much to bare.
There I was, consciously and whole hardheartedly stripped naked before a Holy and Just God, giving me what I had ask for, answered prayers and I wasn’t happy at all about the PROCESS.
Yes, answered prayers is a process and so is waiting.
Especially when we are constantly seeing others around us being blessed, granted petitions and all the items on their ‘Wish List’ has been crossed off!
REAL TALK-- I went to God and told Him about all the visual injustice that was happening around me and how He dealt me a bad hand. I pointed out scriptures and even doubted God’s timing in the whole thing. Let me tell you, that attitude didn’t last long, as the Lord firmly reminded me in several different ways.
He was in control, He rains on the just and the unjust. Those very prayers that I formally believed in where recalled back to my remembrance.
I reread, the lives of:
Solomon:
"Unless the LORD builds the house the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalms 127:1"
Abraham:
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham”! “Here I am,” he replied. Genesis 22:1”
Job:
“But he knows the way that I take, when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:1”
Joshua:
“Joshua told the people,” Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3”5
I was reaffirmed once again of how Mighty, Sovereign and Powerful God was and is, His mercies truly endures forever.
Conviction came alongside of my memory lapse and the Holy Spirit lead and guided me into a real ‘REALITY CHECK’.
What I’m trying to say here, is that, patience comes along with spiritual growth, answered prayer and personal sanctification. When we as believers are walking in faith, being obedient to the call of God and truly desiring God’s perfect will for our lives, we must stay in His Word for comfort, encouragement, and spiritual stamina.
There’s no way we can endure the actualities of life, alone. There is no way we can talk the talk without walking the walk. Obtaining the best that God has to offer through the sincerity of our prayers and Godly desires, is sometimes found in the root of the word, ‘Waiting’.
WAIT, period!
When we add the suffix …. ‘ing’ to the word WAIT, it can and will appear as if our petitions will never come to pass, the never ending hallway of forever. Simply aspiring to just the word, WAIT, such as, “I’ll just wait,” can perhaps bring about solace and consolation, rather than a long down out experience of dread to answered prayers and fulfillment of dreams.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14”
Blessings to all and always Stay Encouraged!