Just because it's delayed...

A few weeks ago, I saw a John Hagee quote that has stuck with me. "Just because it's delayed, doesn't mean it's denied."It brought peace to my heart because in that day, I'd spent time sulking over a request I've been making of God for a few years now. It also got me thinking about the other 'long term' requests I keep tucked inside my heart and mind. Requests that involve the salvation of family members to personal goals I'd like to accomplish to every day obstacles that I feel hold us back.

A few weeks back I blogged about worrying. Many of you shared with me that it's a constant struggle you face every day and with that, I can empathize. I'm a worrier by nature, but God has not held back lately in reminding me how deeply He cares for the worries of my heart. Whether they be small or large.

An example of that happened this last week. This time last year we received a letter in the mail about home insurance that brought a lot of frustration and tears. A stupid something that was out of our control. A something that would would nearly make it impossible to ever sell this house and would cost us  financially in the meantime.

 I wish I would have known then what I'm about to tell you.  

Anyway, the good news was that there could be resolution to this problem, but we didn't really know what it could be or how to go about it.  We had no answers and no guidance.

Over the last year, I've been praying over it casually and hoping for something to show us what the next step needed to be. I've done different research, talked to people who've experienced the same and have just had to sit and wait. Not my best quality.

On Friday, I received another letter that at face value, looked to be another horrible, 'we want more money or else' type letter. I started to go into a panic attack when God sweetly reminded me my favorite verse. 

           Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 
In that moment, that moment of fear,  I had a choice to make. I could continue worrying and going through my typical 'worse care scenario' cycle, or stop and do what He has asked of me and give him prayer and praise. That's exactly what I chose to do and oh what peace filled my soul. I held that letter in my hand and I claimed victory over it. I praised God for an awesome work in the situation, even though I had no clue what that could even mean. Didn't matter, I was giving it straight to him, thanking Him for loving me and knowing my worries and praising him for it to be taken care of.  

Today, 3 days later and many phone calls later, I write to tell you that not only did that letter bring good news masked in ugly, but it looks like very soon, this entire situation will be put to rest and in a bigger, better way that we could ever have planned for ourselves. That my friends, is my God at work. I wish I could remember every time I have a concern  that the way God will choose to meet the need will always be in a much bigger, better and more awesome way than I could ever dream up. Just because the answer to this prayer was a year delayed...didn't mean it was denied.

Just because my request to see a promotion in my business has been delayed, doesn't mean it's been denied. 

Just because my request for healing in the concerns I have in my health have been delayed, doesn't mean it's denied.

Just because the sweet salvation of my family and friend's hearts and souls has been delayed, doesn't mean it's denied.

It doesn't matter what the length of time is. I want these met in God's way and not mine. In His timing, not mine. It's then I can rest well knowing that those way's will be something tremendous! You can probably ask just about any Believer and they could share a story with you about waiting on God's perfect timing in a situation and how it far exceeded their expectation once the answer arrived. It's how God rolls. :)

I fully stand on the promises of my God today. He has promised in Jeremiah that He knows the plans He has for me. Plans for me to prosper and not fail. Plans to take care of me and not abandon me. Plans to give me the future I hope for and I want YOU to know that He has those very same plans for you.

So this is my message to you today my sweet friends. It doesn't matter how long it's been. Years, months, weeks or days. Just because it's been delayed...doesn't mean it is denied. Wait for His precious timing, pray and praise while you wait and know full well that YOUR God is preparing something amazing for you.

-Amanda

From the Word:

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,

    or, whine, Israel, saying,

“God has lost track of me.

    He doesn’t care what happens to me”?

Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.

    He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.

    And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,

    gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don’t get tired,

    they walk and don’t lag behind.

Isaiah 40:29-31

Sticks and Stones

I have to say that this saying has always driven me crazy. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
I realize we use this to build up our children to not let someones attitude about them hurt their spirits, but the fact is, it's so untrue.
Words hurt. Whether said directly to or behind someones back, cruel words hurt.

Just this morning, my daughters and I were doing our weekly grocery shopping in a local store. The girls were behaving well and I was letting them pick our items off the shelves. We turned down an aisle and I asked my oldest to pick up an item we needed. Another lady nearby was needing something in the same area and so I was encouraging Katie to try and hurry up so we weren't in the way. When she couldn't find what I needed, I walked forward and picked up the item and ushered Katie back to our cart. No raised voice, no aggravation, just a simple instruction so we were showing respect to the other shopper.

As I put the item in the cart and we headed down the aisle, a woman approached me and scolded me. She told me that I needed to "chill out", rolled her eyes, stormed off and huffed about me under her breath. I stood there in shock. It was unwarranted and unnecessary. I turned to look at the other patron in the aisle and simply shrugged my shoulders with a look of confusion on my face for lack of something to say. Embarrassed, we went on to finish our shopping. I passed that shopped many times before we left and I could tell she felt bad for me.

Can I tell you what bothered me most about this experience? It wasn't that I didn't deserve it, because I didn't. It was that a total stranger felt it was reasonable to make someone else feel so small. To cut them down and certainly didn't mind doing it in front of her children. In those moments, I questioned my parenting. I racked my brain trying to figure out what I'd done wrong. I walked through the store in shame when no one else, sans the one shopper, saw what happened.
She felt it was okay for her to take, what I assume was a rotten day,  out on me. Someone she didn't even know.

As in all things, I try to pull lessons. On the car ride home, I talked to my girls about how it made me feel and how it's a reminder that we must never make anyone feel like that. That our roles are to uplift and love and support the people around us and to never put them down. It also challenged me to think about how many times one of my bad days was paid for by someone else. Frustrations taken out on my children or spouse or even friends when it had nothing to do with them. How my heart is challenged to keep my heart and my mouth in check.

So yes, sticks and stones may break one's bones....but words hurt just as badly. I will always endeavor to teach my children this and no longer that words cannot hurt them. Because they do and just as others words can hurt them, so can their words to others.



From the Word....

29 When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you. Ephesians 4:29

21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings. Proverbs 18:21

18 But the bad things people say with their mouth come from the way they think. And that’s what can make people wrong. Matthew 15:18

24 Kind words are like honey; they are easy to accept and good for your health. Proverbs 16:24

3 People who are careful about what they say will save their lives, but those who speak without thinking will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:3