Learn To Trust The Delay (Faith in God)
Picture this. I am sitting on a plane in Piarco airport in Trinidad preparing to return to London, England. I had a late night so I was exhausted. I settled into my seat and prepared for the less than 10-hour non-stop plane trip. I pulled out a magazine and got as comfortable as you can on an airplane. The plane began to taxi away from the gate and we were on our way. And that was a good thing. Because once we landed, my two sons, pre-arranged medical doctors' appointments and other chores awaited me - so I wanted some shut-eye.
The plane continued to taxi down the runway, but then it came to a complete stop. Initially I did not pay much attention to it because I had started losing my ability to concentrate on the magazine...my eyes were slowly drifting shut. But after about 10 minutes I realized that we had been stopped longer than normal. Right about the time I realized we had been sitting for a while, the pilot's voice came over the intercom and informed us that there was a mechanical issue with the plane. We were told that we would have to sit on the runway until the mechanics came to check it out. He jokingly said "thank goodness we caught it while we were still on the ground. We would hate to get into the high altitudes and expect the mechanics to come up there".
Eventually the mechanics arrived to the plane, fixed the issue and we were off! We arrived slightly behind schedule, but safe. Thank God. I so love how God teaches me life lessons in the midst of my ordinary, every-day situations. This was no different. See, as we waited on the mechanics to check out the plane I was reminded that the same scenario often happens in our lives. We board the "plane" of our dreams, hopes, and goals. We make sure everything is on point...or at least we think everything is on point. We prepare for take-off. But often as we are about to start a new journey, going to the next level, or experience something different, something happens and there is a delay. I don't like delays. If I am supposed to leave at 8pm, I want to leave at 8pm. Not 8:15pm, not 9pm. I want to leave at 8pm. I just do not like delays.
But I have learned (well. Honestly? I am learning....) to trust the delay. And trusting the delay means having faith in God. Having faith that His plan and will for our lives is so much more strategic and purposeful than we could ever imagine or conjure up!
Unlike the pilot, I find no humour in "middle of the air mechanical problems", (it sounded like one of my subtle jokes) but putting all jokes aside the pilot preached a mini-sermon to me in that moment. When he announced - "Thank goodness we caught it while we were still on the ground. We would hate to get into the high altitudes and expect the mechanics to come up there".
Did you catch the mini-sermon? The pilot was talking about a plane...but I heard it for my own life. One of my constant prayers is that my gifts do not take me anywhere that my character cannot keep me. As you and I continue to move into new dimensions in every area of our lives, we do not want to go higher and then crash because our character could not withstand the pressure. Do not get me wrong. We never get to a place where we have arrived and are free from the need to make character adjustments. But at each new level we must make sure that who we are can withstand the pressures that will inevitably come as we ascend.
So as much as I do not like delays, I know that the delay may be God's greatest gift to me. Just like with the airplane on our trip from Piarco airport, the adjustment that needs to be made might be minor. Think about it. We did not have to get off the plane and we did not have to turn around and go back. We simply had to stop for a few minutes, fix the problem and then we were able to keep going.
The delay may be the same for you. It does not mean that you stop, walk away and give up on your dreams. It may simply mean that you need to allow your team (your spouse, family, counsellor, pastor, etc) to help you fix the problem and then you will be on your way. Ignoring the delay is dangerous. Moving forward despite God's whisper to wait... Refusing to allow yourself to be surrounded by "mechanics" that can help you address the issue... Placing your dreams and goals above the bigger picture... Ignoring the delay is dangerous. So do not do that. Do not ignore the delay. Be still. Be quiet. Be open. Let God do His thing! Have faith that if God has pushed the pause button then you should heed the warning and trust the delay. Scripture of the Day: "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." - Proverbs 16:9
He Is - A Builder Ezra 1:2-4
Though He had torn the Israelites away from their land, God kept His promise to restore them as a nation and rebuild their temple. Much to everyone's surprise, God compelled a pagan ruler to fulfill His divine design to build His temple.
It may seem that your life is in tatters - a wreck - all you see is ruins where you once saw progress. You may feel discouraged, but do not give up. God is a builder, and a very creative one at that. Against all odds, He will use kings or commoners to restore your life to His intended design.
God created heaven, earth, and all the constellations of the universe. He also created something else, something very mysterious: the human spirit. God created this spirit and placed it in us because He wants to live in us. The Bible says that He does not live in temples built with hands - we ourselves should be temples for Him.
I pray that you have been blessed by this teaching...Shalom!