I purchased a prayer devotional in the beginning of the year, and I knew when I made the purchase that it was on back order. Meaning I’d need to wait longer, until I’d get it in the mail. As the 3 weeks past, it felt like months. It’s only then that I realised how impatient I can be. Despite the waiting – which I was anticipating, I felt my initial heart that the wait would be worth it, change to “I cannot wait any longer”. And then how the tables turned. Now the parcel is waiting for me to pick it up at the post… I was so close to calling up the place, but literally that day I got the confirmation email that it was shipped.
It’s like, what it’s like with God. We know things take time, yet we expect things to come early. But you cannot rush Him. That in fact in my scenario, I wanted it, and I knew it would come eventually but I didn’t know exactly when.
When I was running this week, there was a morning I made a goal to run to a specific point before taking a break. But when I saw that point up ahead, there’s a part of me that wanted to stop running even though the “finish” line was so close. It’s like in high school when you have sports day or cross country, and your told you should make sure at the end of your race, that you put in more effort and finish strong – to run that last moment as best you can. But I always felt like I already used up all my energy and I struggled to get that last push to the line even quicker – especially in sprints…despite my height I was more of a long-distance runner than sprinting.
Just like the item in the mail. Like how many people were working to get it in stock and to ship the parcel. It’s like God. He’s working, and never stops. In the waiting for something whether it be a finish line like a blessing in your life, you can hold onto His word. For He truly works in moments we don’t think He is doing anything. Maybe that confirmation email, “It’s shipped” is only a prayer, action of faithfulness or obedience away [Isaiah 41:10].
Also randomly, it would have to be a month or so ago…when I first moved out that I purchased cleaning supplies. Little did I know that the I got the wrong spray for the mirrors. Did I realise instantly? Absolutely not! In fact I was convinced that the paper towels which I picked out (which when I purchased, I thought I was getting toilet paper). But no, they were these biodegradable sustainable thick paper towels. And I thought since I’ve never used this type of paper towels before that the fibres were making the mirrors worse. Haha but it was maybe over a month later, when I was cleaning my family’s house that I noticed the spray my mum always uses…and once I saw it I went home and looked at my “glass cleaner” spray. Because I needed to check I got the same brand. But nope, while yes I had purchased from the same brand, I had purchased an entirely different type of spray –I purchased bathroom cleaner. The cleaning spray you use to get rid of the soap in the bathroom, not to clean mirrors! Dang!
Going back to the theme of not giving up, it is exactly what I did. Although it was the wrong spray, I kept trying multiple times to clean the mirrors. But no matter how much I tried, without the KEY ingredient – mirror cleaner – my mirrors would never in fact be streak free! Crystal clear…shiny shiny. Where I was making the mirrors worse, than before I had first began.
In our life as believers, we need the right KEY ingredient to get our DESIRED result. In life, if you start with the end goal in mind i.e., running with a finish point in mind, so you will achieve your goal. You are meant to plan backwards. Oh, it’s like algebra in high school. You need the answer to the equation, to fill in the gaps – simultaneous equations to find x and y. Ah, the good old days! While life isn’t as simple as algebra, it’s similar in a sense.
Figure out what your goals are for 2025, go deeper than what meets the eye and then work backwards. Keep God as your KEY. Keep His Word close.
God, You Amaze Me!
E
Acts 17:27 NIV
God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
Acts 14:15 NIV
“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God of unfailing endurance