We've all got things we wait for in life. No matter how holy or spiritual you get to be, no matter how good, great and honest you are , we all have things we wait for. The waiting never ends
At every stage of our lives, we must wait for something. When one thing is gotten, not long, another crops up to be waited for.
That's life for you and trust me, this is what makes life worth living, meaningful and beautiful especially when you know what you are waiting for is worth the wait.
But in our waiting season, how well do we know that there is also an appointed time to receive that which we wait for?
It is one thing to have faith in the waiting process and another thing to be patient enough to wait. So many of us have faith and believe that God will deliver to us what we wait for but not everyone is patient enough to wait for the appointed time.
We all have dreams, aspirations, desires, visions, potentials, talents and desires we want to be established but it seems like some of these things are taking forever to come to pass.
And it would seem like God has forgotten you, does not love you, does not intend for you to prosper or that you are never in His agenda.
But hear what He says in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord," plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".
And then He says in Habakkuk 2:3 "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
God has not forgotten anyone. He has good plans for us all and at the appointed time it would be made manifest. It might seem long, the future might look blurry but your waiting can never be in vain.
All God wants from us is to be patient, to trust and have an unwavering faith in Him.
In Psalm 13:1, David had a similar experience (waiting period) and in his despair, he cried out to God saying "How long oh Lord? Will you forget me forever? how long will you hide your face from me?'
Everyone of us have had similar occasions that has made us feel we are forgotten by God and to want to ask God how long will He hide His face from us?
Irrespective of how despair we might feel, whether frustrated, discouraged or disappointed, God determines the appointed time for us to receive what we are waiting for. He knows whats best for us and has the best for us us.
While waiting, it can be tempting to skip the waiting process and some people actually do. The end result of skipping the waiting process can always be disastrous. When you see Sarah (in the Bible) you can ask her 😃.
Sarah was promised a child but it seemed waiting was everlasting and at such couldn't hod on. So, she asked her husband, Abraham to have sexual intercourse with the maid who later had a son for Abraham. Despite this, Sarah still had no peace.
There have been times I've asked myself why I did not start my writing and speaking career earlier than I did? Having in mind that I may have gone further than this. But each time I asked myself such, the thought "There is always time for everything" answers the question in me.
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW US WAIT?
1. TO PREPARE US : So many times, we aren't ready or prepared for what we are asking for, so God wouldn't want to give to us what we are not ready to handle.
I am not even perfect in my speaking and writing ability yet as at now. I am still a work in progress. So, imagine me writing and speaking earlier than I started, I would have given up a long time ago.
But now I know better. Despite the mistakes and certain failures I've experienced and still do even now on this path, I never gave up. I still push on courageously because I know God is working in me.
If I had started earlier than the appointed time, I would have given up a long time ago even at the slightest challenge but because its time for me to start, I grow with the challenges and not give up.
You see, when it's the appointed time, you may go down but never go out. Irrespective of the storm or challenges that may arise, you will always find your feet strong on the ground.
So, God gets us prepared for the challenges ahead while we wait. In waiting, our physical, spiritual, mental, social and psychological bones become stronger.
2. TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS : When we finally get what we so much desire and crave for from God, we become blessings to others.
Your experiences and story in the waiting process becomes an inspiration and encouragement for others. Your life alone will serve as an example for others to follow.
Your discovered dreams and visions become blessings to so many people around you and beyond.
3. HE IS WORKING IN YOU : As we wait, God is working in us getting us prepared for the appointed time.
Through waiting, character, patience, faith, perseverance, resilience and hope is built in us. He works in us and through us while we wait so that when the appointed time comes, you would be able to withstand and overcome the challenges that may arise.
There are times you even discover your dream, passion and vision in the waiting process if only you are sensitive.
4. TO DEPEND SOLELY ON HIM : We wait for whatever we are waiting for because we have no control over it. If only we all had control over the desires of our hearts, then none of us would wait for anything.
But because we get to realize we are not in charge of that we wait for, we look up to God and solely depend on Him. We realize He is the only one that can give us what we desire and even better.
Where our strength fails that's where God begins.
WHAT TO DO WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE APPOINTED TIME
The simple answer to this is to remain active while we wait. Most people assume that the waiting period is a time to be passive but we need to be active.
Being passive can lead to depression, tension, unrest, anxiety and deadly mistakes. Below are some ways to remain active while we wait.
1. PURSE OTHER DREAMS : While you wait for one dream to be achieved, pursue other dreams. Get active with life, be creative and carry on with other activities.
2. KEEP YOUR FAITH ACTIVE : Keep believing and trusting God that He would grant you your heart's desires as long as they are in line with His will. Let your faith in Him during this period grow and remain strong.
3. DON'T FIGHT THE WAITING PROCESS : Never fight the waiting process or try to skip it else you would regret it for life. Instead of fighting it or struggling with it let your faith grow strong.
4. BE CONTENTED : Be contented with where you are and what you have for the moment while you aim higher. Being contented at the moment does not mean you settle there or settle for less but keep dreaming big and hoping while you wait.
5. KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE : Keep being good towards people. Be courtesy, polite, kind and loving towards people. Don't let the frustration of waiting make you take it out on people.
It's not the end of the world so brace up, keep your head held high and forge on with life.
6. KEEP SERVING GOD : While you wait, keep loving and serving God faithfully. This might seem difficult to do when we are anxious or desperate about a thing we are waiting for but remains the best thing to do.
Here what He says in Mathew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things (Including the things you are waiting for) will be added to you."
Quote for the day - "Never let what you are waiting for prevent you from living in the moment".
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