My aunt introduced me to what has become my favorite eating spot before or after a walk. Crisp & Greens! I recently went there prior to a walk and ordered a grain bowl and a smoothie. The young lady who prepared my grain bowl advised her co-worker of the smoothie I ordered. I paid for my food and then waited patiently for my smoothie to be made. Well, I waited patiently at first! I’m not sure if you’ve ever been waiting for your order in a restaurant, you’re looking at all of the other orders getting made, you watch people leave and wonder where your order is at? Did she forget? I know what color my smoothie was supposed to be and all of the other smoothies she was making were not it. I then began looking at all of the people that got their smoothies to determine if they were there before I was. At the same time, I find myself staring at the smoothie maker employee, as if to say “Hello, I’m still here. Did you forget about me? Do I have to remind someone?” Just as I was about to ask about my smoothie, I felt relief when I saw the berry smoothie being announced and delivered to me with a friendly smile”.
How do you react in this situation? Some of us have the tendency to get upset, give the employee a dirty look and march out as if to say, “It’s about time. I shouldn’t have had to wait that long!” Others of us are just relieved we weren’t forgotten and didn’t have to give subtle hints and reminders. Some of the people were waiting with a friend/partner, so they occupied the waiting time talking to each other and didn’t even think about the time they had to wait.
God used this experience to show me how I wait for the things I’ve prayed about. I normally wait patiently in the beginning, but when the answer doesn’t come when I think it should come, I tend to get a little anxious. I see the prayers of others answered, and I rejoice with them, but deep down I’m asking God why I’m still waiting for my prayer to be answered. When Lord?
This is an area I’m really working on in my relationship with God; patiently waiting from beginning to end. From experience, God always comes through when I need him to. Always. The bible says in Psalm 37:25, “I once was young but now I’m old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread”. I am a witness to the truth of this scripture. God has always come through, so why do I tend to worry when I know I’m not supposed to? The word says not to! The answers: I feel like it may be too late, I am not able to control the situation, the “what if” questions begin to consume my thoughts and I begin to doubt.
Admitting that is difficult, but it’s the truth. Waiting is a challenge for me, but I want to be better. God has never failed me and yet I struggle with his timing. My goal in this season is to change my thinking. I cannot set a time on when I think he needs to respond. My focus is to truly meditate on the word and believe what it says. Remind myself of all the things God has done for me in the past and stop negative thoughts before they’re able to take root and grow into doubt. I will never forget what one of my Praise dance instructors said to me as I was beginning to learn to dance, “It all comes down to your relationship with God. You either trust him or you don’t”. It’s really that simple.
This season I am striving to change my thinking process when it comes to patiently waiting. Instead of asking God “How long?”I want to say to him “However long”. However long it takes, I trust God to come through. I won’t doubt, pout or give subtle reminders when I don’t see the manifestation of his reply. I pray this will be your stance as well.
“Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
~Felicia
Happiness in the Truth 