Lord…When is my time?!
The end of the year can be so hard because you’re seeing everyone’s highlight reels at once. Suddenly every time you log on, you’re bombarded with engagements, pregnancy announcements, graduations, promotions…and as happy as you are for that person…a small part of you wonders…Lord, when is my time?
And for me, it gets harder and harder with each win that I see. Every time I see ANOTHER ring, ANOTHER picture of a cute family posing by the tree, ANOTHER maternity shoot…my smile gets a little smaller and my excitement gets a little thinner. And I really have to ask God….is next year my year? (Because I’ve been asking you that since December 2014 and the answer seems to always be no).
For you….it may not be a healthy relationship that you’re trusting God for…
Maybe you’re a junior in college….and every December you’re like WHEN will it be time for me the graduate and get out of here…
Maybe you just finished your first semester of grad school and you scraped by with 80s in everything and you’re wondering…when will I be able to flex a 4.0 semester?!
Maybe you have been working at your job for over 10 years and you’re wondering…when will I get that promotion I’ve been working towards….
Whatever it is that you are trusting in God for and waiting, * somewhat * patiently for…understand that it will happen at it’s appointed time.
I just want to share these three things I know for sure, as someone that is waiting for a million different things:
Take control of your thoughts.
Satan knows what images/thoughts lies can trigger you. So guess what, if you’ve been waiting to meet “the one” ALLLLL you will see online, at the mall, at church…is going to be images of happy couples that will leave you feeling sad, frustrated, disappointed, and heartbroken…IF YOU ALLOW IT.
And Satan works hard, but Instagram works harder. If you are online liking all these pictures of happy couples, even though it makes you want to snatch your wig off and toss it across the room, that is ALL YOU WILL EVER SEE! That’s how the algorithm works.
So, that means maybe taking a social media hiatus so that you’re aware of what you’re taking in. Or curating your feed so that you’re only following accounts that make you feel good.
You HAVE TO think about what you’re thinking about!
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Proverbs 23:7 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.
Take some time to write down scriptures that remind you to focus on what’s in your locus of control. Take time to be still and quiet your mind when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Take time to unplug and duck off when you feel that discontentment or resentment beginning to rise. Because the things you think about will surely come to pass…and we are only manifesting positivity in 2020.
2. Don’t believe lies, remind yourself of God’s truth.
It can be so easy to believe, based on what we can see in the moment and how we currently feel, that nothing will ever change. Even if we don’t say it out loud, in our hearts we start to settle. Maybe it’s just not meant for me to get married. Maybe God wants me to focus on my career and a husband and a family is not in the plans for me. Kids cost too much money anyway, God wants me to focus on saving.
We begin to rationalize our fears, and make them our reality. This means that we are putting more faith in our circumstances, than we are our God. It’s hard to snap yourself out of having a pity party, especially if you don’t even realize you’re having one. The best thing to do when you feel your faith starting to slip, is to reassure yourself of God’s promises. God has a beautiful future planned for your life, and he had it planned before you were even a thought in your mother’s head. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Romans 8:28- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Psalm 37:4 - Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Ecclesiastes 3:1- There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Habakkuk 2:3- This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
There are over 5000 promises from God in the bible, promises that we can fully depend on and put our trust in, knowing that his word is unchanging and he is fully committed to his good plan for our life. Next time you feel doubt creeping in, or you’re tempted to believe your circumstances and what you are currently seeing, shift you vision to God and focus on the beautiful things he’s going to do in your life. And know that just because God has good plans for your life, we don’t know when those plans will happen. We cannot rush his timing because we are growing impatient. Take delight in the process and understand that every moment in the waiting room, is a moment God is using to prepare you so that you’re ready for what is to come.
3. Comparison is the thief of joy
A big part of the reason that so many of us are sad or frustrated during the waiting season is because we are comparing our journey with someone else’s. It shifts realllllll quick from “If God can do it for them, he can do it for me” to “Okay God, WHEN are you gonna do it for me??” When truthfully, we have NO IDEA what that person endured behind the scenes to get to where they are today. We don’t even know if they are HAPPY in their current circumstances. People only show you their winning moments, they don’t share the struggle that may have happened or may still be happening behind the scenes.
Proverbs 14:30- A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Ecclesiastes 4:4- And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Proverbs 23:17- Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
I know this time of year can be really hard when we think about the hopes and dreams we have for ourselves, and trying to stay encouraged and patient as we watch other people live out our dreams wondering when it will be our season…But God promises that everything will happen at an appointed time, so I want you to trust in the fact that your moment is coming.
And to be thankful the the moments you have now. The best way to overcome discontentment is to practice being content. What are you grateful for in your life during this holiday season? Take note of it, because we will never get to relive these moments in this season again.