"That's not what I thought it would look like." This is typically my response to anything I draw. My imagination has a beautiful sketch in mind and what my hand draws can be best described as chicken scratch. I must have a disconnect between my brain and hand. Either way, the end result is pen to paper, but the design is drastically different.
Sometimes I know there must be a disconnect between me and God. See, I think I know how something should happen or when it should take place. However, God will get to the same result but by a much better route. The journey will be drastically different depending on who is steering the course. I have learned that it is much better to let God lead the way than to have me lead the way.
Take for instance, Sarah. God gave a promise of a son to her and her husband, Abraham. Well, she decided God's plan was taking too long so she resorted to Plan B--her plan. The end result was the same--God gave Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac, but the journey was drastically different.
Have you ever stopped to think what would have happened if Sarah hadn't manipulated the promise and waited on God to bless her and Abraham? Life would have been much simpler. She wouldn't of had to worry about "another woman", she wouldn't have had to worry about another child in the mix. nor would she have had such a contentious relationship with Abraham.
Sarah's story is in scripture for a reason. She shows us that waiting on God is difficult. It isn't easy to long for something so badly that has been promised to you. Some of us having been waiting for a child like Sarah, while others of us have been waiting for a spouse or for a circumstance to turn around. Regardless of what we have been waiting for--waiting is tough! However, we must wait. If we choose to step ahead of God or His perfect timing, there are very real and difficult consequences.
Moreover, Sarah's story isn't unique. She isn't the first or the last person to try to plan out how God is going to work. Her picture of what that promise would look like fulfilled verses how God fulfilled that promise were two very different pictures.
She used her human logical brain to solve the problem of a barren woman and her husband being promised a son. God didn't need for her to use that logical human brain because the glory was all His and not her intellect. See, sometimes God takes us to the end of our resources so when a promise that He gives is fulfilled, we will know that it was Him that worked the miracle and not us.
Sarah shows us that waiting on God, although it is excruciating at times, is more fruitful and peaceful than trying to make something happen outside of God's perfect timing.
The next time you want to rush ahead of God and get to the good stuff right away--stop and think what could be learned in the waiting and how much easier life will be if you wait. He knows the best route to get you to the destination. Trust in His leading and He will grant you patience.
Reflection Questions
If you are in waiting, what lessons is God teaching you? What aspects of His character is He showing you in this season?
Has God fulfilled any promises in your life? Can you look back at those seasons and see His hand working contrary to how you thought it should work? Did it look different than how you thought it would look?
I like this:
ReplyDelete"God didn't need for her to use that logical human brain because the glory was all His and not her intellect."