Almost is not Enough

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 tell them not to eat it until they came back. It’s funny because many children agreed to wait for 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 witness 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 rewards 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?

A moment to 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

Do you ever question your wait? It’s okay to say yes; sometimes, the waiting season can be confusing, draining, and extremely long. What I love about the above scripture is that it explains why God chooses to wait, and it’s because there is a loving purpose behind it¹ and God wants to give you the best of the best gifts. Not only that, but God shows us how much we can truly trust in Him!

God never promised that our journey would be easy ( read John 16:33), but he did promise that if we remain steadfast and secure in Him, we will find peace. When we walk in the peace of God, it will leave us in a place of deep strength and meaning² as well as rest and contentment (read John 14:27).³

Is Waiting hard? A thousand percent yes! Is it doable? A thousand percent yes! When it’s all said and done, will you be happy that you did it? A thousand and ten percent, yes! God instructs us to wait because he doesn’t want “the gift” to mean more than our emotional and spiritual health. He doesn’t want you to lose yourself over things that will only be momentary.

God’s goal is for you to have eternal life, and there are many routes that we can take, but there is only one way that will lead you into those pearly gates. So God isn’t delaying the promise because he’s mad at you or because he wants to punish you, but it’s because Our Father loves you more than anything in this world, and the gift that He has waiting for you is more than the treasures of gold in this life.

You are His precious Jewel, and to God, almost is not enough because He sees you, He knows your worth, and He will not allow anything to diminish your value in the Kingdom of God.

Daily Challenge

We have already experienced disappointment when we try to do things independently. So what would we have to lose if we try to do it 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?

Reflect on your answers and see if there is a noticeable pattern.

1. Blue Letter Bible, ” David Guzik: Study Guide for Isaiah 30,” accessed September 19, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/isaiah/isaiah-30.cfm. ↩︎
2. Blue Letter Bible, ” David Guzik: Study Guide for John 14,=tf b” accessed September 19, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/john/john-14.cfm.
     ↩︎
3. Blue Letter Bible, ” Peace, Peaceable, Peaceably-Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament” accessed September 22, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=VT0002077. ↩︎