Leaning on Him When the Wait Gets Longer.

We've got so much on our plate right now. As I've said before, we've been finding so many things that will cost more and take more time in the house to fix. Additionally, there are things that our family needs, that we needed yesterday....like a car for instance, that we have been trying to figure out. It's so easy to get caught up in all of that....lack of finances, what we need, what we dream about, what we needed yesterday and still don't have. Things we have to tackle one at a time.

Last night, Andy and I talked about an issue we've found with the floors in the trailer. Basically, the stuff that's there isn't going to work for us. It's too thin, doesn't match up to the walls, and 2 heating vents were covered when it was put down. In the long run, if we want it to last, we need to do it right.

We've also been talking about how a project like this can either strengthen or tear apart a marriage. Neither of us are willing to allow it to drive a wedge between us. So that means that all of the frustration, worry, impatience etc....needs to be let go and we need to allow God to be at the center of every decision we make. For better or worse, we need to do it right.

So, are you seeing a theme here? If you want things to last, they have to be done correctly. Doing it half way and rushing, just doesn't work because in the end, things tend to fall apart. Ever hear the phrase "Haste makes Waste?"

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." Proverbs 21:5

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

How many times do we rush and worry and make our own plans? I'm so guilty of it. When we first decided to take on this project, I had a million ideas, goals, and plans running through my head. I wanted to be done, and moving before school started (2 days from now). Patience is most definitely not my strong point. I know that I need to trust in the Lord. I also know that trusting requires me to wait on His timing. He knows what He's doing. What do we do though when our flesh is in a hurry? What happens when God's timing takes too long? How can we know that things are going to work out and that our needs will be met? First we've got to trust that he Has a plan.

"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." Jeremiah 29:11

Sarah struggled with patience as well. She wanted a baby so badly, and it seemed like it would never happen. I understand that urgency, and the disappointment she no doubt felt when the years passed by. Still...nothing was impossible for God.

"Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14

"And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him." Genesis 21:2

Impatience is a weakness, worry is a weakness....but they aren't insurmountable. We can allow God to perfect and refine us through those weaknesses. I think right now....I'm in that place. I'm learning patience. Andy and I are learning how to rely on God through this experience.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Finally, we can trust that our needs, when we are trusting in Him, will be supplied.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

With that being said, I know that realistically this project will take more time than expected. I also know that God has a plan for us. Building a home together is going to be a step in building our marriage. Regardless of how quickly it comes together, or how long we might wait, we want to do it right. We want to trust in His timing.

"He has made everything beautiful in it's time." Ecclesiastes 3:11

We don't always know what God is doing behind the scenes, or why we have to wait. All I know is that I don't want to miss a chance to Glorify Him through the waiting. To allow our experience and our struggle to minister to someone else.

For Sarah, the wait was painful. She knew that God had promised her husband children. Still she hurt, and she tried to make it happen on her own. She had to learn trust the hard way, she had to learn through her mistakes (letting her servant have a child with her husband). She laughed with disbelief when the Lord said that he would allow her to conceive. When Issac was born, she laughed with JOY.

Her story was important and passed down because later on, her story helped others understand and trust what God was doing in their lives . In Luke we can read about Elizabeth who also conceived later on in life. Her husband doubted the promise that she would have a child, but she did not. She rejoiced in what the Lord had done for her. She was also there to mentor Mary when she needed the understanding of a Godly woman. In fact, the angel that informed Mary of God's plan to use her, also informed Mary of Elizabeth's pregnancy, to illustrate to her that "Nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1).

That's what I want to lean on. Nothing is Impossible with God. Sometimes, you just have to wait a little bit for it. I want to share our story with you so that, maybe through our stumbling and learning process, you can learn to lean on Him too.