Reason #663
Tonight my mom shared with me the testimony of a lady that she goes to church with. I literally had to fight back tears as it was one of the most incredible, precious testimonies I have ever heard. And as I listened to this woman's story, my heart was so encouraged. Because it was a sweet reminder of God's provision. Of how sometimes, although we feel like our heart couldn't possibly break anymore, it's really just God's way of preparing us for what's to come. It's His way of stretching us and growing us so that we're not only ready for that blessing but that we actually see it as an answered prayer directly from His hand. And when those things happen, we can't help but be thankful. The question is, though, where is our gratitude in the wait?
So here's the quick overview of this lady's testimony. She wanted to be a mother her whole life but got to a point in her life where the possibility of having her own child was not a reality. She began to pray that God would meet that desire and ended up in a meeting about international adoption. God made it known to her that this was the path He was going to use to bless her with a child and so for 2 years she diligently prayed that God would provide her with a baby girl. It seemed like there were a ton of big obstacles to overcome, but God was faithful to help her over each one and she finally adopted her baby girl.
Where is our gratitude in the wait? Does it even exist? Because I find myself praying for the patience to wait rather than praising God for the fact that He is doing something, even if I can't see it. I find myself praying the time away, asking Him to hurry up rather than thanking Him for the things He has done for me. It's easy to look around and want what everyone else has, isn't it? It's easy to wonder why they are getting your blessings and you're left empty handed. It's easy to be closed off to any other way that God might work or to shut out any other path that He might desire to take you down. It's easy to be frustrated, to complain, to feel neglected and to be upset. And it's easy to try and take the reigns, forge your own path, and do your best to make things go the way you want.
But maybe the whole reason you don't have is not because you aren't asking, but maybe because God wants to fill that desire Himself. He doesn't want you to find satisfaction in a home, job, spouse, baby, car, pay raise, or healthy body. He doesn't want you to fill that longing and void with things that temporarily bring joy and comfort. Maybe the absence of your desires is really God's way of calling you to Himself. Your failed efforts are His attempt to get your attention. Your broken plans are His way of getting you to turn to Him. Maybe God isn't so concerned about meeting every single need the second you ask for it as He is with having your whole heart so that you don't need anything else to make you happy, fulfilled, complete, or satisfied.
I believe every word God said, and I believe that when we actually, fully, completely delight ourselves in the Lord, He does meet our heart's desires. But you see, when we are delighted in the Lord, our desires change. They start to take on a different form because we see them through God's eyes versus our own. And so maybe that means we wait. Maybe that means we give up our plans and accept His. Maybe that means we trade in our thoughts for His ideas. And maybe that just simply means we continue praising Him for the fact that one day, our desires will be made complete. In some form or fashion, He will work things out. Because when we find ourselves praising God for the fact that He can do anything, praising Him for the fact that He has already done so much for us, and thanking Him that He has brought us this far and won't abandon us in the wait, we realize that He truly is the only thing that will completely satisfy.
#663 - Because God will work things out, even if they don't work out the way we initially thought.
"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." - John 10:10
So here's the quick overview of this lady's testimony. She wanted to be a mother her whole life but got to a point in her life where the possibility of having her own child was not a reality. She began to pray that God would meet that desire and ended up in a meeting about international adoption. God made it known to her that this was the path He was going to use to bless her with a child and so for 2 years she diligently prayed that God would provide her with a baby girl. It seemed like there were a ton of big obstacles to overcome, but God was faithful to help her over each one and she finally adopted her baby girl.
Where is our gratitude in the wait? Does it even exist? Because I find myself praying for the patience to wait rather than praising God for the fact that He is doing something, even if I can't see it. I find myself praying the time away, asking Him to hurry up rather than thanking Him for the things He has done for me. It's easy to look around and want what everyone else has, isn't it? It's easy to wonder why they are getting your blessings and you're left empty handed. It's easy to be closed off to any other way that God might work or to shut out any other path that He might desire to take you down. It's easy to be frustrated, to complain, to feel neglected and to be upset. And it's easy to try and take the reigns, forge your own path, and do your best to make things go the way you want.
But maybe the whole reason you don't have is not because you aren't asking, but maybe because God wants to fill that desire Himself. He doesn't want you to find satisfaction in a home, job, spouse, baby, car, pay raise, or healthy body. He doesn't want you to fill that longing and void with things that temporarily bring joy and comfort. Maybe the absence of your desires is really God's way of calling you to Himself. Your failed efforts are His attempt to get your attention. Your broken plans are His way of getting you to turn to Him. Maybe God isn't so concerned about meeting every single need the second you ask for it as He is with having your whole heart so that you don't need anything else to make you happy, fulfilled, complete, or satisfied.
I believe every word God said, and I believe that when we actually, fully, completely delight ourselves in the Lord, He does meet our heart's desires. But you see, when we are delighted in the Lord, our desires change. They start to take on a different form because we see them through God's eyes versus our own. And so maybe that means we wait. Maybe that means we give up our plans and accept His. Maybe that means we trade in our thoughts for His ideas. And maybe that just simply means we continue praising Him for the fact that one day, our desires will be made complete. In some form or fashion, He will work things out. Because when we find ourselves praising God for the fact that He can do anything, praising Him for the fact that He has already done so much for us, and thanking Him that He has brought us this far and won't abandon us in the wait, we realize that He truly is the only thing that will completely satisfy.
#663 - Because God will work things out, even if they don't work out the way we initially thought.
"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." - John 10:10
Comments
Post a Comment