If I Only Would Have Waited

Today while I was searching through my old basket of journals and books, I found an earring that had been missing. There was nothing special about this earring. It had no significant value. It was probably one that I bought from Target months ago.

This was the earring I have been searching for for the past two weeks. However, a few days ago I got sick of looking for the missing hoop so I decided to throw the one I had away.

Today, I found the missing piece.

I was so upset with myself. Why did I not look harder? Why did I not hold onto the other earring just a little bit longer? Why..Why..Why?

You can only imagine how I get over things that are of greater value than a $10 pair of earrings…

Immediately after this incident,  I was reminded that this is often my response with God. 

"Ok God, I have waited long enough on that job to come through so I think I will go ahead and take the other one that was already offered to me". "Ok God, I have waited long enough on whoever You want me to be and I just don't think you are going to follow through, so I am just going to settle for someone who I probably shouldn't be with, but who is available". "Ok God, I have waited long enough for You to guide me with my future so I think I am just going to take it into my own hands". 

You see where I am going with this. 

All the while God is saying, "if you only knew what was ahead…if you only knew what amazing plan I have for your life….if you only knew where your decision is going to lead you….if you would have only waited.."

When we can't take the waiting anymore, we go into panic mode and find something to grab onto. We don't like how it feels to have to completely trust God. Trust me,  I know. It feels like you are on a tight rope walking over the Grand Canyon. Anxious, scared, doubtful and terrified of what will happen after each step.

But this is what God requires. 

He requires us to jump off the tight rope and into the canyon of the unknown. 

He wants us to trust Him beyond our comprehension. He wants us to trust Him when it doesn't make sense and when life doesn't look so good. He requires us to trust Him because He is God. 

Countless times I have taken the lead and have gone against God's plan for my life because I have been tired of waiting. 

It feels like I have been abandoned by God and it feels like I have been forgotten. 

It "Feels"...

Feelings lie. 

The truth is that God will never abandon me or anyone else. The truth is that God delays and makes us wait sometimes because He wants to be the One glorified. 

And when it finally happens, when you do receive the job you want, when you do meet that special someone, when the addiction is overcome, when the song gets picked up, when the prodigal daughter or son comes back home, when the marriage is put back together, when the dream comes true….the glory can only be to God. 

I am reminded of something I heard at my church. "There is a God and it isn't me".

Instead of me trying to tell God what to do with my life, why don't I listen to what God is telling me to do with mine.

Right now He is saying "Wait…..Wait…Wait…Wait…and Wait"

If I only would have waited a little longer before throwing away the earring...

Hold on. You never know what God has planned.