I don’t know about you, but I feel like I am always waiting and pushing for the next big thing; anxious and impatient to move into our new home, for prayers to be answered, for my kids to grow up, to buy the next thing I think we need, or direction for health concerns. And this year my biggest one was getting my book launched. Do you find yourself always looking forward to the next big thing instead of just enjoying the process to get there?
God’s Timing
Getting my book published took way longer than I ever expected! It felt like there was always something to accomplish, adjust, or wait for, as I kept pushing to get it published faster. Finally exasperated, I realized I just needed to trust Gods timing. His is always perfect and when we commit our plans to Him, we will succeed (Proverbs 16:3), so why do I need to stress? (I get this reminder every time we are waiting for big things to happen) Sound familiar?
Sitting in church on Sunday (I was listening, I promise;0), I had this revelation that it has always been God’s timing, and His timing has always been perfect in our lives. Even when we were not always paying attention to Him! Sometimes we have had to learn the hard way, but His grace has always abounded and He made something beautiful out of our mistakes. He still ended up working it out for our benefit and for His glory (Rom 8:28). Can you remember a time that God’s timing came in at just the right moment? Where He protected you from mistakes or greater heartache? Or are you in the deep, treading the water looking for an answer right now?
He has kept us from so many mistakes and has answered every one of our many prayers at just the perfect time (it would take me days to list all these answered prayers big and small). He just answered them in His perfect timing and thankfully not in mine. Why can’t our prayers be answered instantly? Because maybe we needed to learn something in the process. Because if it happened too soon we would not appreciate it the same. We have learned to be thankful. He has protected us from greater pain because maybe we were not ready yet for what He has called us to. I personally feel like my whole life as all been practice for the next thing and then the next thing, and somehow I feel like all the roads are all coming together to collide into this one moment that stands before me. So what is my point in all of this?
His timing is everything!
The Lord knows how many hairs are on your head. It says in Psalms 139, every moment of our lives was laid out before a single day had even passed. He planned the days of your life my friend, so why do we get anxious? My advice for today? Rest in His perfect plan. Pray and surrender your plans to the one who knows what you need. Take one step at a time. Don’t get ahead of Him in your impatience. The grass on the other side may look easier and much prettier, but that my friend, is someone else’s grass. It is not yours, and won’t fit the life God intended for you. It takes much time and work to get green grass and a manicured lawn, so do the work, persevere and you will begin to see Gods plan for you unfold with all of the blessings begining to spring forth.
Just like our lawns, it takes much work to get it looking pretty, and then some maintenance to keep it that way.
So how do we get the pretty lawn (or find the beauty in waiting)?
- Surrender everything before the Lord, trusting Him for every need. Take it one day at a time.
- Ask the Lord to show you a picture of your life and where He wants to take you. This will help you head in the right direction and remove any of those thorns getting in the way of the beautiful garden He wants to create in your life.
- Trust the Lord’s timing and do not get ahead of His perfect plan for your life.
- Be thankful, even in the hard moments
- Spend time with the Lord in prayer and in scripture. He is after a relationship with you after all. He is not your servant or your magic genie, He is your Heavenly Father looking out for your best interest and wants to spend time with His adopted child!
Sometimes a great hurt in your life can break your faith for a time. Sometimes things happen that can feel completely devastating and it can be hard to find your faith again and you feel deeply wounded. Chances are this was a very big tactic from the enemy trying to break and distract you from our good, good Heavenly Father (Don’t be afraid to seek Godly counsel if you are having trouble getting past the pain). But guess what? God’s goodness remains even in the ashes. That’s where the beauty comes in. He waits for you to trust His good plans for your life. None of your pain will be wasted if you just trust Him. This life is temporary, and trusting that truth will help you move forward.
Wait on Him now, and move forward as He says go. He doesn’t always reveal the big picture until the time is just right, as we can quickly get overwhelmed. (If I had seen 13 years ago what ministry God was calling me to, I would have crumbled! But I feel so thankful now being where I am as the blessings have been immeasurable just being obedient to the call.)
As I say this, my book was released this week! The craziest part? My book was launched a year to the day I started writing it. I had a whole pile of rainbows this week too which gives me such a sense of God’s promise for breakthrough in my life. Thank you so much for your patience, prayers and support friends! It has and will always be His amazing timing when we trust and give it over to Him. So ask the gardener to help you clean up your lawn so you can enjoy the fruits in due season, my friend! Sign up below for more heart encouragement right to your inbox!
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