The Long Way Around

Let me just go out on a limb here and ask you...how many of us always want to take the shortcut??? I know I am not alone when I say ME! I want the closest parking spot, the shortest line, and the highway and roads to be clear when I am driving so I don't have to be stuck behind some slow poke doing 35 in a 45. And it's usually always when I have to be somewhere at a certain time. I hate waiting. I am pretty impatient. 

As much as I'd like to say I have always gotten the shortcut to everything, it is DEFINITELY not true. I mean look at me. I am going on 32, been married for almost 11 years, and still...no children. I just now got into an awesome job that I love. Neither one of these have come easy. And one of them hasn't come yet at all. Apparently the prime of my life started after I turned 30. So if that's the case...the best is yet to come! 

If there's one thing I have learned the past 11 years, is that God is not in a hurry. He doesn't take the shortcuts for anything. Look how long Abraham had to wait for a son. Look at what age Jesus finally finished his life task. Look at how old Moses was when God used him, and he was first mentioned as a baby. Look at how many years Jacob had to wait before he finally got to marry Rachel. I am saying all of this to say that God has a purpose for all of us. And refining takes time, and sometimes a lot of time depending on how jagged our edges are. 

God likes taking us the long way because He likes talking and walking with us. He likes to show us the beauty and splendor of His creation. He likes to teach us things along the way, and show us things we might have missed had we been in a hurry. He does all of this so that we can know Him better, and so we can grow to be more like Him. He does it simply because He loves us. Had we not waited for anything, we might have never known what His grace and comfort felt like, or what it felt like when He wraps His arms around us when we are hurting and confused. He does it for relationship and communion with us.

I've had to wait forever on many things, and it's taken a long time to get here. I haven't arrived. But I am HERE. Waiting is very hard. But waiting allows us to see a glimpse of what worth looks like when what we've waited for finally arrives. It builds faith in us. It builds trust in our Savior. Waiting refines us. I've waited a very long time to have children. But it has made me such a better woman than I ever thought I could be. If I never had to wait on what my heart desires the most, I am not certain my relationship with Jesus would be quite the same as it is today. He has made me wait BECAUSE He loves me, and because He cares a lot more about the condition of my heart rather than some perishable dream or desire. He feels the same exact way about you.

He promises in His word that when we wait on Him, we will find new strength. Have hope, He knows what He is doing ;)

 Love this verse and The Message Bible version....

ISAIAH 40:27-31...

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
    or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
    He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
    He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
    And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
    gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
    they walk and don’t lag behind.