We are a little more than halfway through the first month of the final quarter of the year. Read that again if we have to and as we do, take in these words – halfway, first and final.
By now there are two experiences that have or are taking place: either we have received the answer to our prayers or we are waiting. And for some of us, the wait has been longer than this year, and the year before, and the year before.
No doubt it can be a challenge to wait on the Lord. It can be a challenge to remain steadfast in prayer and faith. It can be a challenge not to be weary in well doing, especially when we see others receiving the answers to their prayers. This is not to say we are envious of them, in any way. It is to say we are wondering when it will be our turn.
We’ve prayed. We’ve fasted. We’ve sown. We’ve cried. We’ve been still. We’ve been obedient. We’ve had unwavering faith. And as we know, that list goes on.
What we do not know is the estimated time of arrival for the answer to our prayer, but Lord knows we check on it like an Amazon package! What we do not know is why it is taking so long.
What we do know is that it feels like God has forgotten about us, or at least that particular prayer. What we do know is that we feel like we cannot wait another minute. Interestingly enough, we also do not have a plan in place to manufacture our own answer to the prayer, which is actually a good thing.
If we had a plan and decided to do it our way, right away (hello Burger King), we may find ourselves in space like Hagar and Sarah, where a fabricated blessing leads to tension. And though all things work together for our good because we love God and are called according to God’s purpose, some things just do not have to be so.
So instead of doing it on our own, we put ourselves in a space to let go. Letting go is not in the sense of giving up on God or giving up in our faith. It is a matter of redirecting our focus and attention. I believe that in the moment we make and implement that decision, we increase our capacity to receive, which gives God more room to move.
Think about it, how many times have you released your tenacious grip on expectation, only to find Hebrews 6:10, which reminds us that God is not unjust to forget our work and (labor of) love that we have shown toward God’s name, in that we ministered to the saints, and do minister (paraphrased).
Therefore, no matter how long it takes, this can be our anchor of hope that the blessing is coming. Another anchor of hope is in Amos 9:13-14 (MSG), “Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.” God’s Decree. “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once — and everywhere you look, blessings!”
Hold on to the promise.
Release the expectation to God.
Prepare to receive your blessings.
Know that your wait is not and will not be wasted.
Contact Rae Karim at rae.karim@gmail.com.
