“We are an impatient species. The Bible is thousands of years old, and within those pages we find countless stories of impatient people, always questioning God as to when, how, why, where, who, and what. We are the exact same way today.”
Scripture
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.
Acts 1:7
Reflection
We are an impatient species. The Bible is thousands of years old, and within those pages we find countless stories of impatient people, always questioning God as to when, how, why, where, who, and what.
We are the exact same way today.
Instead we should be focused on being ready, appreciative, disciplined, and focused. We wear watches, but are late. We have calendars, and still miss important dates. We’re so busy doing one hundred things at once, that we forget some of the most important things. We want to know when we’re going to get that raise or commission at work, get the new car or home, get married, get pregnant, and get the vacation.
We’re so focused on dreams and goals, yet we don’t make the time to spend with God. We want faithful partners so we can be in committed relationships, yet we aren’t faithful and committed to God. We are easily distracted by thoughts and things of the world, yet we want God to be focused on us. How can He trust us when we can’t trust ourselves and others? How can we want from Him what we don’t freely give to Him?
The more we push God for results, the more He makes us wait. The more we interfere, the more things get derailed.
My Impatience
I was a very impatient person. I’m still working on my patience, but years ago, my impatience was embarrassing. I wanted things before I even finished conceptualizing what it was I actually wanted. I couldn’t wait for a person to finish their sentence, because in my mind they were thinking and speaking too slowly. So I either rushed them through or finished it for them.
I bought in to the fast-food, microwave-quick, way of life about everything in my life. My one, five, and ten-year plans were not to be messed with. They had to take shape at the designated times, and no later.
Some of My Past Goals
I was determined as a teen to have my first car at the age of 16, and it had to be a Ford Mustang with a red or pink bow on it. I remember in my early 20s I said that I had to be married with children by or before my 30th birthday. I remember that I was adamant that I graduated by or before I was 21. It didn’t matter that I changed my major twice.
So What Happened?
Well…I never got a car at age 16 and still haven’t gotten a Mustang. Matter of fact, I didn’t even get my driver’s license at age 16. My dad said I hadn’t passed his driver’s test yet. I didn’t get married in my 20s. It happened in my late 30s and I was divorced by age 41. Oh, and I still haven’t had children. I did graduate before I turned age 21, however, almost 10 years later I found out that there was one or two classes missing from my record that had to be completed for my degree to be officially conferred.
What I’ve Learned and What I’m Still Learning
Many of the dates and deadlines I created over the past 30 years have been elaborate, ridiculous, and stressfully draining. Some things I accomplished, and a great deal more I did not. The more I pushed, the more I expected, the more God showed me that nothing takes place before He makes it happen. I look back on things now, and I am so grateful that certain career and relationship goals I established never came to fruition. I either wasn’t ready or they simply weren’t a good fit.
God has plans for me, and just because He isn’t showing me His outline, doesn’t mean I’m supposed to make my own decisions in hope of speeding up His plan. It also doesn’t mean that I push past Him and come up with my own plans and deadlines, as though I can overrule and circumvent His plans.
Some people mold faster than others. Some people need longer because we resist Him so much and so often. I know that I’m the latter. What about you?
Over the past two years I have noticed that I am more patient, less focused on time and beating some invisible clock, and more focused on pleasing God. Why? Because I’m being forced to face some harsh realities that have humbled me to my rightful place.
I’m learning that it is He that I serve, not the other way around. And this place and space was created and made possible by Him, and I’m here because He too made that possible. I’m also learning that it is not for me to know the times or seasons. I’m only to be ready, appreciative, disciplined, and focused.
What about you? What have you learned? What are you still learning? Are you ready, appreciative, disciplined, and focused?
Prayer
Father, Your son, Jesus, made it clear that we are not to be concerned with what time of day or year that You will show favor upon us.
You are the ultimate authority.
You make the decisions, and determine when something will or won’t take place, and when something will or won’t be done.
Father, being in (or maybe admittedly of) the world, I have become dependent upon clocks, watches, calendars, and seasonal changes. I have developed a certain expectancy, and because of that I haven’t realized that You reign supreme over all time, place, person, thing, and circumstance.
Things will happen when You say so. Father, show me how to free myself from my ignorance, and dependence upon the concept of time, and how I believe it impacts my life. I pray for the patience of Jesus. I pray for his humbleness and meekness. Thank You Father for answering my prayers. Amen.
Have a blessed day family!
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2010-2021. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Like this:
Like Loading...
Breaking Bread With Natasha 