Good Morning Beautiful,
Do you remember when the biggest thing floating on the internet was the kids’ candy challenge? The parents would place candy in front of their children and give them the option of having all of the candy when they return or eating one or two before they leave? It’s funny because many children agreed to wait on their parents to receive their treat. In their mind, they are thinking, “of course, I will wait. I get all of this candy!!!” However, as you watch, you become a witness to their fight to be patient. Some are squirming in their seats, becoming anxious, and as the viewer, you are holding your breath, just hoping that they choose to wait. Why? Because you can see the reward that is promised if they hold out until the end.
It’s easier to see the outcome of waiting when you are on the outside looking in. However, in life, most of us are like those kids, unsure of the reward and benefits of our obedience. We are anxious because we don’t know how long we will be asked to wait, leaving us unsure of the unknown. By being anxious and losing sight of our end goal, we tend to find ourselves settling for what we can take rather than waiting for what we deserve.
So I ask you today, Are you willing to wait for the actual blessing or settle for almost enough?
Reflect
“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18
God never promised that our journeys would be easy, but he did promise never to leave our side as we experience some of life’s hardest challenges. It is so easy to get caught up in the fast-paced lifestyle that when we are forced to wait or to slow down, we view it as an inconvenience to our time. But what if that moment of delay serves as a layer of protection? When we take a moment to stop, relax, and think, we give ourselves the ability to make sound decisions.
Everything that God does serves a greater purpose, and he knows the challenges that stand before us. God is working things out of you and in you. Every test brings you closer, but the more we give in, the more times God has to keep testing us to ensure we get it right. God wants to teach you about self-control because there are going to be more times in your life when you are faced with a choice to act in self-will ( I want it my way, and I want it now) or act in God’s way (to work in a way that will bring glory to God).
An excellent example of being impatient and settling for almost enough is Saul. Saul was a man after his own heart. Oddly enough, when you read about him, you find out that God gave him so many chances to change (read 1 Samuel 10:9). However, our friend Saul cared more about what people thought of him (1 Samuel 13;11) and decided to act on his own will and carry out God’s plan without God (read 1 Samuel 13:8-12). As a result of sauls selfish acts, he lost the kingdom God had initially blessed him with (read 1 Samuel 13: 14). He settled for what he could see and not what belonged to him.
We have many Sauls in our generation, those walking in self-will over God’s will. The test isn’t the wait, but it’s how we choose to respond to our circumstances. God is standing on the outside as our parent, looking in and knowing the gift waiting on us. We must continue to be obedient to Him. He is our cheerleader, pushing us to go for what we deserve in this life. God wants to bless you with a kingdom! Will you wait for it?
Observation:
We have already experienced disappointment when we try to do things on our own. So what would we have to lose if we try to do it in God’s way? Why not take the risk and see what can happen? If you’re at the place where you are asking yourself if it is worth it, look back at past choices when things didn’t work out.
- Was it worth wasting your time in bad relationships?
- Was it worth wasting your energy trying to prove a point or to be recognized?
- Was it worth it to lose yourself trying to be someone else?
