Tired of Waiting? #FB

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9 KJV

or, in other words...

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

TNIV

Ever get tired of it all?

~Tired of working hard and seeing few or little results?

    ~Tired of investing in others and not seeing the rewards you hoped for when you started out?

         ~Tired of one "dangled carrot" after another?

You can even fill in the blank, I'm sure, of the area(s) where you most struggle to keep on keepin' on. I know I can.

I've been in full-time ministry, really most of my life, but officially since 2005. I can't even count how many times I've used the term "dangled carrot" in my talks with Stephen and close friends as it relates to ministry and family dreams that seem unfulfilled at worst, and partially fulfilled at best. We experience times of wondering, did we really hear from God? Is this still what we're supposed to be doing? It seems whenever we begin to think we're making some progress in one area, something happens to dash our hopes and pressure us to give up.

There have been many times when I've battled with the temptation to quit. I have often struggled with guilt when I would hear others declare that they never get tired of the work they do. That they don't allow themselves to get discouraged. I would begin to pack my bags, because I knew I was about to go on a guilt trip.

But then I heard a hero and mentor of mine say, "God doesn't give brownie points for not giving in to sin you aren't tempted to do." (Bill Thrall)

Recently I had a coffee date with my dear friend, Ginger Garrett. I always love getting together with her. She is a breath of fresh air. She is wise and genuine and humble and funny and just an absolute delight to everyone she comes in contact with. Not to mention the fact that she is an incredible author and communicator. What a woman! I count it a privilege indeed to be her friend and to have her as my friend. She said something that continues to echo in my mind:

"God always does the most loving thing."

God IS love. So, He won't necessarily do what I want Him to do. What I prefer He does. What I beg, cry out, and even try to convince Him to do. He won't necessarily do what makes me most comfortable or even happy. But, I can absolutely, unequivocally bank on the fact that He WILL do the best, most loving, thing. Always. For me. For my husband. For my children. And, yes, for YOU.

As I've contemplated these different statements, I realized even just last week, that these things I was visualizing as "dangled carrots" are in reality, more like sign posts along the journey to lead me along the path God has for me. In His love, He sends me one sign post after another. He doesn't give me dead-end dangled carrots that I'll never be able to reach. He sends me one sign after the next and each one is guiding me to the intended destination. Each one is part of the journey. Each one is meaningful and purposeful.

This "a-ha!" discovery or realization is truly enabling me to enjoy where I'm at on the way to where I'm going. This is helping me to trust my God that much more with each step of this journey. This is helping me to believe more wholeheartedly that HE is enjoying ME through each step of this maturing process because He is both the initiator and sustainer of the entire process.

So, as I go about this personal journey my God has created just for me, I keep the map (the vision He has given me) in view, and I allow His voice to guide me from one stop on the journey to the next. This helps me to walk in trust. With determination. Without fear of failure (for we've all heard that God allows U-turns when we make a mistake!) I can trust Him for the necessary detours and stops along the way. He is indeed working from and for eternity. He is in no rush.

What a precious thing is this Christian life. Not just a life that lives forgiven and free; but a life that is continually being transformed into who we were intended to be all along. What a gift!

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." or in another translation "Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint..." May it never be said of us that we allowed the vision to become invisible to us or hidden from us by our own unbelief. Keep it before you. Consider the Message paraphrase which says,

If people can't see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.

So, where does God have you on your journey? Please don't give up! Hang on to Him and hang in there. Each sign post is leading you to a place that is more amazing than you could have ever dreamed or imagined. I'm on this journey with you. Please pray that I won't give up or lose sight of the vision either. I would love to hear from you! Take a moment and write to me using the comment form available.
Don't give up! He who promised IS faithful!!

*A repost