“When things don’t go as planned”
Last Thursday, I was scheduled to be on a 6:20 AM flight to Chicago. I was headed to the You Lead Women’s Conference and needed to be there before Friday. I arrived at the airport around 5:15 AM and was told that my flight was canceled because it was snowing in Chicago. I could hear God saying; “Stay calm it’s going to be okay.” I made a phone call to see if I could get another flight. The next flight would not be leaving until 12:00 noon. I called my husband to notify him of the change, and he prayed saying; “Thank you Lord, my wife has been delayed but not denied.” She can still go on her trip and make it to the conference.
This week’s post is just to encourage you because there may be some things that you want to see happen in your life, your marriage, your career or in your children, but it hasn’t happened yet. There are some plans that are happening but not quite the way that you planned. Know that God has not forgotten about you and that things don’t always go as we plan. Some times when we pray, God does not say no, but He delays the blessing.
An answer to prayer may be delayed because there are somethings that God wants to accomplish in us before He grants the request. A delay is not a NO, it just means you have to wait on the Lord to grant your request. It means not right now. Psalm 27:14 says; “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” Isiah 39:18 says . . .”Blessed are all those who wait for Him.”
Waiting doesn’t always feel good, but wait! When you are waiting on the Lord, you are trusting God’s timing. You don’t have to become anxious or worried because you know that your life is in God’s hands. He will help you to wait on Him. Pray and ask God to help you to accomplish His will while you wait. In other words, use your wait time wisely and watch your attitude. Look for God to teach you lessons while you wait.
I think it is interesting that the passage in Psalms says when we wait on the Lord, He shall strengthen your heart. Our hearts can get weak while we are waiting but each time that we look to the Lord, He will strengthen our heart. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)
I was delayed for over 6 hours, but I was still able to make it to the conference. Delayed but not denied. I was perfectly okay because God wanted me to take some time to be still. The unexpected cancellation forced me to be still, enjoy the presence of God and gave me time to read and study. We must remember that things don’t always go as we plan, but ALL things work together for the good. Understand that God has a reason for delays and when things don’t go as you have planned, trust God. He will make things happen in His perfect timing. Be encouraged!
Until next time . . .
Carolyn
Marriage from A to Z 