I spent some time with a friend of mine the other day. We talked about her journey, and she shared how grateful she is to finally be in the place that she had been believing for, for over a decade. I’ve known her throughout this time. I’ve witnessed her ups and downs. I’ve witnessed her frustrations and heartaches. All she wanted was to walk in her purpose. All she wanted was to be who God created her to be…the person that He’s been preparing her to be for her entire life. But over and over again, her attempts failed. She’s faced closed door after closed door. But, one thing I can say is that she never gave up. It didn’t matter how many nos she heard. It didn’t matter how many times it seemed like her dreams would never come true. She kept going. And now she is here.
If we keep going, if we don't give up, we will experience the promises of God.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)
Waiting on God is arguably one of the hardest things that we must do, as we walk in faith. It’s hard to keep going, when the promise seems so out of reach, and when we can’t understand how it can come to pass. But regardless of how hard it gets, we must not give up. We must keep walking. We must keep putting one foot in front of the other…taking it one day at a time. Because If we just keep going, we will receive what God has promised us.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:7-11 NLT)
We must remember the heart of our Father.
Because as we face trials, and as we focus on our situations, we can sometimes forget how good He is. Yes, the situation may seem bad, but the Lord is still good, and He always wants what’s good for us. We must remember that this is the truth, regardless of what we see.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
This…is the Lord’s sentiment towards you. He wants good for you. He wants to give you a future (the future that He’s designed just for you), and He wants to give you the hope that you will need to get there.
I want you to pause for a moment to reflect on the vision that He has given you. Has He shown you something for your future? Has he put a hope…a desire in your heart? If so, speak that vision over your life. Declare who He has called you to be, and seek Him for it.
It’s so important that we understand the significance of praying for the promises of God to manifest in our lives. In Matthew 7 Jesus himself told us to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. He explains that when we ask, we receive. When we seek, we find. And when we knock, the door will be opened.
God hears our prayers, and he responds to our faith in Him.
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. (1 John 5:14-15 NLT)
Maybe you’re reading this, and you have no idea what God wants for your life. If that is the case, I encourage you to seek Him. As you continue to seek Him, you will find Him. You will discover who He is, and who He’s created you to be. And then, He will give you the desire to believe him for it.
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT)
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalms 37:4 NLT)
When we spend time with God, He completely changes our perspectives in life. Instead of seeking our will, we will begin to seek His will. We will begin to desire the things that He wants for us. And this is when the process of waiting on Him begins.
The promises of God are for an appointed time.
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven— (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB)
God has already ordained the timing of His promise. He’s already chosen the specific season that it will come to pass in our lives; only, He doesn’t share those details with us. He gives us the vision, without the timing. And honestly, this can be so frustrating. It’s like we’re constantly running towards a finish line that we can’t even see. Will we ever get there? Will we ever get to experience the promise that God has given us?
I think that this is what frustrated my friend the most, as she walked in faith. She did everything right. She believed God. She ran towards the vision that He had given her, but regardless of her efforts it seemed like she would never reach the finish line. And that’s what discouraged her the most. At times, she felt as though God had forsaken her, but that wasn’t true at all…her appointed time just hadn’t arrived yet.
The other day, as we continued to talk about how God has blessed her in this season, she said something that stood out to me. She said, “Honestly, there couldn't have been a better time.” And that is what I want to say to us all today.
There’s no better time.
I know it’s hard to wait on God, when He's placed such a burning desire for promise in our hearts, but there’s no better time than the time that He has already chosen. He is our Creator and the master of the universe. There is no coincidence when it comes to His plan. Wherever He’s placed you, it’s for a reason. If He has you waiting, it’s for a reason. He knows exactly what you need to walk in promise, and He knows the perfect way to lead you there.
In His timing, He does exceedingly abundantly above what we’re believing Him for.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV)
God doesn’t just want to answer your prayers. He wants to bless you exceedingly abundantly, beyond what you are seeking Him for.
Take a moment to think about the promise that God has given you. What are you believing in Him for? Whatever it is, He will do far beyond that…because that is His nature. He is a great God. And He is a God that desires to make His name greater on the earth. Allow Him to do that through you. Allow Him to do something abundant in your life, so that He can be magnified.
If you are in a time of waiting, I want to encourage you today. Keep going. Keep seeking. Keep believing. Continue your walk towards purpose…no matter how hard it gets…no matter how long it takes…because there’s no better time than the time that He’s already set before you. And when you get there, you will see that. You will see that His plan is perfect. You will see that His plan is better. You will see that He has exceeded your expectations, and that He is a promise keeper. He will not fail you. Choose to put your hope and trust in Him today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for being here with me in this moment, and thank you for the promise and purpose that you have spoken over my life. Today, I have been reminded that your plan is to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I can ask or think. But, I also know that your plan only comes to pass according to your perfect time. So today, I am making the decision to trust you. I trust your plan. I trust your timing. I trust that you know what’s best for me. I declare that I will wait on you…no matter how long it takes…no matter how hard it gets, because you are faithful. I know that you will never fail me, Father. I love you. In Jesus name, amen.
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