Several days ago, I was locked out my apartment building. It was raining hard outside and I rushed out the door because I had to drop something off at the leasing office. I left my keys because I always just run across the street there and I never stay long. Forgetting the glass door to enter my building recently had a new security system installed, I left the apartment door unlocked and ran out the building. Of course, it was not until I tried to open the glass door, that is when I remembered I did not have my key card to enter. To make matters worse, I left my cell phone inside as well.
Immediately my mind began racing. Should I run back to the leasing office, knowing they would charge me a fee for getting locked out? Should I just wait until I see a neighbor exiting? What if I leave and then miss when the door opens? It was not as if I was really in any rush because I had the day off but who wants to spend their day off waiting in the rain? Even more frustrating was the fact that I could see my apartment door; I just could not get inside. I even attempted to type random codes hoping it would open. It was like I could see the promise, but I could not get to it, no matter how hard I tried.
You may like: Praying the Promises.
It was not until I finally stilled myself, that the Lord revealed to me that many of us are waiting on promises. There are blessings that He has promised us, yet we are not willing to wait. We know He will do it, but we become impatient, anxious, or doubt when we do not receive the blessing in our timing. We are so focused on the promise that we forget about the One who made the promise. Furthermore, our attitudes and hearts are sometimes not even in the correct posture. In some instances, we may act like Abraham and Sarah by attempting to obtain the promise through our own means (see Genesis 16).
Rest assured the Lord has not forgotten you. He sees you right where you are. He hears your prayers. I know it is difficult, but you cannot rely on how or when you “think” the promise should arrive. Remember, the Lord’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). The Lord is an amazing Father. He will not give us something if we are not prepared for it. Do not mistake delay for denial. As the Apostle Peter stated, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). Our timeline is nothing compared to God’s timeline. Sometimes waiting feels like forever because of our perspective. When you ask the Lord to change your perspective, you no longer focus on the promise but on Him.
Do not forget, Abraham was 100 years old when he finally received the promise of a son (Genesis 21:5). In my experience, I have learned the longer the wait, the more beautiful the promise. The Lord is very intentional. So, while you are waiting, humble yourself before the Lord. Seek His face. Do not worry about how your blessing will come, that is His job. Give yourself a break. Our Faithful Father will bring the promise to pass. How do I know? Because when I look back at my life, I see the many times He has blessed me in ways I never expected. So, when you begin to feel discouraged, I challenge you to think about the previous times when the Lord has followed through on His promises to you. Has He ever failed you?
Rickeisha Williams lives in Maryland. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also loves to travel. Her passion is to encourage and inspire others through the Word of God. Her 3 most favorite scriptures are Joshua1:9, Psalm 119:105, and Jeremiah 29:11. You can read more of her encouraging posts on her blog.
