In the last week I have had three huge prayers answered. One of these has been in my prayers for twenty years. One for three years and one for almost two years. Looking back I can see how God used this time to get things ready. To prepare hearts. To teach us to trust in Him. But during the season of waiting I really want God to push my requests on through. But then I remember His ways are not Jill's ways. No one would grow in Him if He took my advice. Because I do not understand the long wait I have to understand God knows best. Isaiah 55: 8-9. "My thoughts,” says the Lord, “are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours." The Bible refers to seasons in life. Ecclesiastes 3: 1, "Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses."
You know the saying, "good things come to those who wait". It reminds me that in money management, you always reap in a different season than you sow. In farming, you always reap in a different season than you plant. In every part of our life this applies. We are given seeds - talents and abilities, skills we develop, time, money, possessions, experiences, relationships, etc. Growth only takes place when seeds are planted and nurtured. And the growth is not overnight! If you have ever had a garden, not all fruit ripens at the same time. When you grow tomatoes, they're not all ripe at once. They come in little by little. You pick a few a day.
Lamentations 3: 25, " The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him," It takes practice but if we let God help us in each situation, we develop patience, which is a Christian virtue. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5: 22, "But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,..." Patience only develops under difficult situations. James 1: 4, "So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." (TLB)
It is through our trials that we will learn to trust God. By seeing His faithfulness over and over, we let go of our ways and gradually place our trust in Him. Galatians 6: 9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." We know that God's plan for our lives is good. Jeremiah 29: 11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" When we trust God with our circumstances we can experience total peace. Philippians 4: 7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must learn to trust God with our lives. When we do, we can say Psalm 31: 14-15 with the psalmist, "But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me." Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." If we try to reason out everything, we will experience struggle, confusion and misery. Let's tend our gardens trusting God to bring the harvest! God promises to give us an abundant Harvest in His time!
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