How do you know if God is making you wait, or if He already said ‘no’ and you just didn’t want to hear it?
Did God really promise this, or did I just hear what I wanted to hear?
I’m pretty sure I surrendered this desire to Him, but it still remains. So does this count under the whole “delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” thing, or did I not surrender correctly? Honestly, I feel defeated more than I feel delighted, so something must be off. And it’s probably me. I’m off.
Jesus, help.
Can you relate?
I sat there realizing that for these five specific things over the last four years, hope was deferred, dreams were delayed, and outcomes were disappointed. But does that really mean God didn’t do it, or does it just mean that He isn’t finished doing it?
This was the moment that the Holy Spirit spoke into my discouraged heart. “Don’t pray according to what you understand. Pray like you know who I am.”
That’s not really an instruction you argue with. There’s no “but what about…” to be discussed at that point. Every bit of our confusion and hopelessness and disappointment is the result of our own understanding – our own expectations – being frustrated.
When hope is deferred, dreams are delayed, and outcomes are disappointed… Does it mean God didn’t do it, or does it just mean that He isn’t finished doing it?
Don’t pray to God according to your understanding. Talk to Him like you know who He is.
The One who created the earth and saw fit to rest so that we would know it’s ok to feel tired.
The One who dwelled among His people, disguising His presence as a cloud by day and fire by night because He knew that coming into contact with His unshielded glory would be too much for them to bear. So instead He showed up as shelter from the hot sun and warmth during the cold night.
The One who clothed Himself in humility as a babe and submitted to the authority of human parents so that He could identify with our every weakness.
The One who displayed His miraculous power first by turning water into wine so that He might prevent the shame of lack from falling on a family.
The Lamb who led Himself to the slaughter because He knew there was no way for us to redeem ourselves.
It’s time we talked
to God like we really
know who He is.
The evidence is all there. God has always and will always move with us on HIs mind. He didn’t have to rest. But we do. So He demonstrated that by taking a Sabbath after creating the world. His strength never fails. But ours does. So He taught us how to be sustained.
He is always acting in love for His children. Even when He withholds. Even when He delays. It is always for our good and His glory. Scripture promises that He withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly, so if it’s being kept from you, then it must not be good yet.
Pray like you know how much He loves you.
In the waiting, it can feel like we lose a lot. But is it possible that we gain something too?
In the waiting, we learn to contend. To fight even when we are weary. To stand firm in the midst of long suffering, take delight in what’s to come while facing – full on – the battle that is already here.
God is always acting in love for His children. Even when He withholds. Even when He delays. It is always for our good and His glory.
We learn to look at the struggle and say, “Thank you for making me strong.” Exceeding abundantly more is coming. But it’s useless if we aren’t strong enough to carry it.
I determined in that car dealership – literally in the waiting room – while my car was serviced, that I could do it. I could have faith for one more year. A fifth year of believing for these five things. And maybe God would do it this time. But even if He didn’t, it would be for His glory and for my good.
Now, one year later, three of those five things have come to pass. Hallelujah! Only by His grace – the same grace that gives me hope and faith for the other two. He isn’t finished. There is one more month in this year. What are you in faith for? What are you contending for?
I’ve learned this year that contending is a fight. Literally. It means to assert something, as in an argument. To struggle or surmount a difficulty. Contending for our faith is not easy work. But it is holy work.
Contending for our faith
is not easy work.
But it is holy work.
I have struggled with the flip side of your question: What if the battle is won, what if God has already said yes and I was too wrapped up in fear or ego to listen, or hear, or worse, act? Does God give up on us and move on, or is uncertainty something we must “contend” with while we figure life out?