Waiting patiently is not something I am good at. My patience has improved greatly over the years just because of hard knocks. If you asked God how I am doing on patience I am sure he would tell you, “She is trying – bless her heart”. Some days I am the Guru of patience. Other days I am driving a bulldozer to get things done as I take control and force things to happen. On those days I pity my poor husband.
This last year has taught us all how to wait. We waited for our food orders to arrive, Wi-Fi, phone calls, zoom meetings, school to open, restaurants to open, our Amazon orders, sunshine, the new season of Prime Time, going back to work, COVID-19 results, and for our loved ones to get healthy. We waited our hearts out!
About twelve years ago I experienced a two-month period of exhaustion and stomach issues. I had a full time job during the day as a manager and after work I would drive 45 minutes to my grandmother’s to take care of her, drive back home the same day to serve in recovery ministry, host a bible study, serve at a pregnancy center, or take care of my own home. On my days off, I was doing the same thing as I did during the week. These were all good things. Godly things. Responsible things to do. I was being a good Christian by doing what others expected of me…so I thought. Then I ended up in the emergency room.
What I learned from all this is that good things can come at the wrong time which makes them wrong things. Just because something is good does not mean it is your responsibility to take on. One of the tricks the devil uses to destroy our joy is distracting us with business. If he can get us so busy that our attention is on other things rather than God, then he can manipulate us further into a spiraling mess. He is a master at camouflaging – wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is a deceiver. Putting good opportunities in front of us and then accusing us of not being a good person or a good Christian if we don’t do it, is how he manipulates us.
“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV
God will never put a guilt trip on you to make you do something. When God brings you an opportunity to serve him by serving others, you will experience joy, fulfillment, peace, and have all that you need to accomplish it, including time and energy. God wants to bless you as you bless others. As you wait for God to confirm his plan and purpose for you – pray. Share with the Lord those specific desires of your heart, asking him to remove anything that does not line up with his plan for you. And ask God to give you his desires for your life so that your will and his line up. Wait with expectation.
“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
One last thing. Saying ‘no thank you’ is not letting someone down or failing. When we allow ourselves room to wait by saying ‘no thank you’, we are also making room for the right person to do the right thing at the right time. Wait for it.
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