A couple of months back, my Sunday school teacher asked our Sunday school class this question. When is it hardest to be patient? Without hesitation I quickly answered, I believe it is hardest to be patient when you are most uncomfortable.
Then he started to look at the story of Noah and how long they had to wait on the Ark until they could once again set foot on dry land. We speculated about how tiresome and uncomfortable being on that boat must have been. If it was me, I’d be miserable.
Back then, people were not as accustomed to modern conveniences as we are now and what we call uncomfortable, they’d call everyday life. Sometimes I feel spoilt for wanting more and better, when they are people out there living with so much worst.
There are so much modern conveniences that we consider a part of life’s basic package, clean water, indoor plumbing, somewhere nice to live and sleep (whether it’s luxury or not), safe food to eat. What am I complaining for?
I am using this season of waiting, to learn to be a person who appreciates what I have, while waiting on God to take me to the next step. Like a beautiful flower, I do not want to remain just a seed or a stem but I want to grow and bloom in my season, rooted in God’s grace. In other words, I do want more and better.
I want to grow, progress and evolve. Like I said in part one of this series, I feel as though our family have grown out of the apartment we are in and it is time to progress to another season of life. Just like the hermit crab who has grown out of his shell. It used to be the right fit, now it is too tight and he has to look for a bigger shell that will be the new right fit.
We were made to move, grow and evolve. God made His children in bible times do that. No one fulfilled God’s plan for their life by remaining where they started. I certainly haven’t remained where I started and thank God for that.
I know God has a plan for my life, a plan to prosper me and my family, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). So I don’t believe that He plans to bring us to a certain point in our life and then leave us. I also know that things will happen in His timing, and not my own (Proverbs 16:9). I know God is using the season of waiting to shape my trust in Him, His plans and His timing.
One of the things I have to remember is that as frustrated and uncomfortable as I may feel. They are people worse off than I am. People who have no home at all. So I am thankful for God’s provision.
I know God is shaping me. I am not yet to the point where I don’t whine or complain at all, but I am a lot further than I use to be. I am thankful for that too.
I have experienced these waiting seasons before, where my shell got too tight and it was hard for me to stretch and grow. The wait seemed too long and unbearable, but nevertheless, I had to wait anyway.
Experience has shown, that if God lays it on your heart that it is time to move. Then he will clear the path for you to move when the time is right. When you align yourself with God’s perfect timing, you have a better chance of winning the race and enjoying the run.
So yeah, I’m a little whiny about my frustrations and discomforts at times (I’m praying about it and working on it), but it is not for the lack of faith or trust that God will fulfill his promise. It is because I am still learning how to be patient when I am most uncomfortable.
Dear God, I am thankful for all the ways you have blessed my life, I ask that you change my heart and help me to learn to wait in my waiting seasons with a patient heart. Help me to put my trust in you.
In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Amen
God’s Word:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.
Proverbs 16:9 MSGTrust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIVTo everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP
3 But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! Habakkuk 2:3 TLB
Extras:
My heart was singing this song the whole time I was writing this post. So I invite you to take in this song of worship today. Maybe it is just what your spirit needs right now.
A Look Back at where I have been- Blog Archives- Waiting- August 19th, 2008
Article from Joyce Meyer- When God’s Timing is Taking Too Long
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Check-out these link-up parties I’ve visited: Sharing Time, Dare to Share, Inspiration Spotlight Party, The Modest Mom, Monday Musings, Mommy Moments, Making your home sing Monday, Mom 2 Mom Mondays, Inspire Me Mondays, Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop, Afterschool Activities for Kids, Inspiration Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Motivation Monday, A Pinch of Joy, Hip Homeschool Hop, Good Tips Tuesday, Fellowship Fridays, The Missional Weekend, Dare to Share Saturday, Awesome Life Friday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Good Tips Tuesdays
Being uncomfortable can make you inpatient. The word that comes to mind for me is scared which is a uncomfortable feeling. We do need to put more trust in Gods hands sometimes.
Being uncomfortable can definitely lead to impatience! I have been praying for a clear focus/direction in my life. As someone who lived most of her life “controlling” things, it is very uncomfortable. However, as you said, God has a plan and a purpose. I need to trust in that.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts.
Blessings.
xoxo
I’ve had huge lessons in waiting. I used to be the most impatient person ever. Now it suprises me how patient I can be. But the price has been hard. Both in sadness, pain and inconvenience.
It is a process, isn’t it? Lord teach me how to wait expectantly, while hoping in You! Teach me how to trust You and how to be content, even when I feel uncomfortable.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Blessings!
Patience…it is one of the greatest lessons we can learn in life. As I have gotten older, I have tried to remember that their is purpose in the waiting. Nothing happens to us that has not gone through the heart of God, so if He allows it to get to us, then there is purpose in it. Thanks for linking up with us at Grace & Truth. #gracetruth
I too have some problems with waiting especially when I think that what I want should happen now. But in past experiences, I realized that God makes me wait for a particular reason and that reason is always for my good. Those who wait upon the Lord will never be put to shame!!
Thanks for sharing!!
wooooooow, sister… i’m amazed – it’s like you crawled right into my head and heart and poured out what you saw onto the screen. we are so in the midst of a similar journey! we’ve befriended a young couple who is preparing to leave for the mission field in an undeveloped nation, who will take their two small babies and live in a hut, and i struggle with living in a cottage on a bay footsteps from the ocean, as God prepares us for our next “home.” thank you for writing… i’m doing the same at the same time, and i know He will use our openness. so glad to “meet” you!
Thank you ladies ,
For visiting, reading and sharing your heart with me. I pray the Lord will continue to bless your lives, give you patience and strength when you are in your “uncomfortable” season and bring you to a season of joy and peace. Many Blessings to you.
I think it is hardest to wait when we are in the middle of a time-sensitive situation and need God to act NOW! This is where we must utilize the patience we have from the fruit of the Spirit that has been given to us by the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. We don’t need to pray for more patience! God is sufficient, but we must employ the gift of the fruit! I am your neighbor at Faith-filled Friday linkup. ~gina
Thank you so much Gina for your encouragement.
New version of that song for me. :) Pretty!
What makes me lose my patience the most is not getting my way. Whether that be kids not obeying or my husband not giving me the attention I want. *blush*
Thanks for linking up with Grace&Truth!
Hi Jenn,
Thank you for stopping by. I understand what you mean about losing your patience for the reasons you stated. I lose my patience under those circumstances sometimes too.
[…] won’t lie to you, I had a few meltdowns this week. Waiting on God for a change in my life, but just like I am going to have for the winter to subside to enjoy the spring, I’m going to […]
It is so so hard to be in a place/time of waiting….especially once I realize that is really where I’m at. When there are things to do, hurdles to jump, oh and just the simple act of waiting and being patient! Nonetheless, it’s always worked out so well when I just step back and let it go, let my HP take over. :)
Patience truly is a virtue I wish I had more of. I find it hard to be patient the minute I decide I want something! I read once where Eckhart Tolle described suffering as wanting our present moment to be different from what it is. He makes a good point.
It is so hard sometimes to practice gratitude and patience when you have grown tired of your circumstances. I pray and complain to God all the time, and like a loving parent, He is not moved by my futile pleas. He has our best interest at heart and will only move when the time is right. Strangely, I find peace in knowing that He is an on time God and not a God that acts whenever I want Him to. I hope things work out for you in good time:-)
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