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Delay is not Denial

"Delay is Not Denial"

About a year ago, a preacher said those four words during his sermon and they have stuck with me ever since. I went home and wrote it on my message board on the 'fridge and used a permanent marker instead of dry erase marker, so that might be part of the reason that is has stuck with me all this time. I also frequent the 'fridge many times during the day......maybe too many, but that is a whole 'nother post.

Anyway, I felt the need to write it down because I have a tendency to get pissy, bratty, ungrateful discouraged at times when things don't pan out the way I want them to or at the time I want them to.

So I need that reassurance that God's timing is the best timing. His ways/plans are the best ways/plans. That just because things are not happening the way *I* want them to, does not mean that He is not listening or does not care......quite the opposite. He cares so much about me and all the details, that He makes sure that everything plays out in my life for the highest good.

It's like when your child wants to have that bag of cotton candy and you know it will not only rot in their stomach, but it will clearly be costing you money...and them pain....in the future at the dentist. So you tell them no. You know that you are doing it for their best interest, but all they can think about is how good it looks and how they really want/need it. When it is denied or withheld, it appears that you are just being a mean mom and sucking all the fun out of life. Yes, one of my children told me that......so I just smiled and handed him a baggie of homemade granola. Then I agreed that I was the Queen of Fun Sucking and he and his gut and teeth would thank me later.

OK, so maybe comparing me being a Fun Sucker isn't a great comparison to God and how He does or does not answer prayers......but let's just agree that our Father knows what is best for us, even when we think we do. That's the thing.......sometimes, we base our needs on "the here and now" and what our flesh desires. God goes way beyond this earthy way of thinking/reasoning. He sees beyond "the here and now" and already knows what He has planned for us in the future. And based on my track record with making decisions and choices in my past.......I think it's best to trust and wait on Him.

Or maybe I need to learn a lesson and that is the reason there is a delay on answering some of my prayers/desires. Maybe God is waiting for the circumstances in my life to be lined up perfectly for Him to bring these desires to pass. God has a purpose for everything, so during these trials of "waiting", God must be molding me and shaping me. He is stretching me in directions that maybe I would not willingly go, but He knows I need to for what is ultimately best for me.

Perhaps.......He is preparing me for what He has prepared for me.

Delay also teaches us to walk by faith. And in exercising this faith, I must trust that the time will come when I will realize why God delayed answering my prayer request(s). And what if God doesn't ever answer a specific prayer? Hmmmmmm, I guess I will have to accept that God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to withhold this from me.

This is REALLY going to be a test of my faith.....and trying to keep this as real as I can......I am not sure on how I am going to handle it. I guess I can pray that God will forgive my kickin', screamin' and cryin' for awhile. Then I know and trust that He'll be there to wipe the tears and boogers. And for the grand finale, He will then open my eyes to show me that He had something better prepared for me all along.

So, I share with you...... ~Psalm 62:1 MEV aka Michelle's edited version

I wait quietly as quiet as I possibly can.......(with a few excused frustrated meltdowns that I hope He can forgive me for)....... before God, for my victory comes from Him.

Today I need to remind myself that I do not want to run ahead of God. I trust and believe that He is the Author and Finisher of my life. He has my life written and knows what should happen and when it should. Maybe what I desire does not fit into His master plan for me. I will *try* to be as patient as possible while I wait for the visions/hopes....... that I believe He placed in my heart and spirit.......to come to pass. I will also try to stop praying selfishly and start asking God what He wants from me.

Here is a poem I found that I really liked and thought I would share, maybe one of my friends (you know I consider you all my friends, right?) is also waiting on some unanswered prayers like me. I hope it brings a little extra peace and comfort to you today!


God's delays are not denials;

He has heard your prayers;

He knows all about your trials,

Knows your every care.

God's delays are not denials,

Help is on the way;

He is watching over life's deals,

Bringing forth the day.

God's delays are not denials,

You will find Him true;

Working through life's darkest trials,

What is best for you.

~Author Unknown



I hope you have a beautiful weekend......

Peace, love and stay barefoot~
xox
*~Michelle~*

17 comments:

Mich said...

I loved this!!! Impatience can be my downfall at times.Thanks for the reminders concerning God's perfect timing. A lesson I need to be reminded of daily.

momstheword said...

This is awesome! So often we do believe the delay is denial, don't we? We automatically think that God says no.

But like you said, we need to remember that His timing is best, and His plans are best. And all the time, His "no" is best. His "no" is better than our "yes" because He knows everything!

Heart2Heart said...

Michelle,

I have learned that very lesson over the last year when we watched almost everything we possibly had almost be taken away forever.

We almost lost our home, hubby lost his health, then his job, then everything that went with that including income. Yet in the midst of that I held on to the promises God provided that He would take care of our daily needs if we remained faithful to His word.

It was enough for me most days and there were some I seriously questioned but looking back waiting for it to all be resolved took over a year, yet there are time after time in the Bible where others had to wait much longer for their prayer to be answered.

Just goes to show us, that God truly does know everything that is going on and His timing is perfect.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Mimmy said...

Michelle - I just found your blog today and you have no idea how much I needed this post. Thank you for sharing.

God Bless,
Mimmy

Amber said...

Thanks for stopping by ye olde blogge!!

My sister, Mich, has talked about you a lot, so it is GREAT to finally meetcha!!!!

Thanks for sharing this today. My parents made a mistake when they didn't make my middle name "Impatience." Seriously...holding my horses is not my stront suit, so I so greatly appreciate this post!!!

Kendra Lee said...

Love that! Oh the wait is excruciating at times... but so worth it...
Forgive me if I use your phrase "fun-sucker". That is too kewl to not be repeated :D

Sherri Murphy said...

Beautiful thoughts and poem. So true.

Billy Coffey said...

Fun Sucker. I'm gonna have to remember that one.

This is a battle I face almost daily. God's timing has been proven perfect in my life time and time again, but I still can't get that through my thick head.

christy rose said...

Delay is not denial! That is so good, Michelle! Knowing that He hears and moves on our behalf at every request and trusting His way and timing is perfect is the only way to remain content and, yes happy, while He is working on all of the details.
I think you have ministered to many people with this message that God has shown you. Thanks for sharing it. I know it brought some light into my ponderings for sure.

Christy

Theta Mom said...

How true. All in God's time. Enough said! :)

Angela said...

Or maybe I need to learn a lesson and that is the reason there is a delay on answering some of my prayers/desires. Maybe God is waiting for the circumstances in my life to be lined up perfectly for Him to bring these desires to pass. God has a purpose for everything, so during these trials of "waiting", God must be molding me and shaping me. He is stretching me in directions that maybe I would not willingly go, but He knows I need to for what is ultimately best for me.


this is EXACTLY what I have been learning these last 11 and a half months....

Angela said...

Delay also teaches us to walk by faith. And in exercising this faith, I must trust that the time will come when I will realize why God delayed answering my prayer request(s). And what if God doesn't ever answer a specific prayer? Hmmmmmm, I guess I will have to accept that God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to withhold this from me.


and this too!!!

Joey said...

This post goes along with Rob Bell's video "Kickball" that we watched Sunday at church. You can view it on Youtube. Have a good week.

Kat said...

Michelle,

You hit it on the head. I like the simplicity of the message and the humorous way you delivered it.

Kat

I'm Jen. said...

I am clinging to that even more these days.

Alecia Peaks said...

Thank you for sharing this just what i neededthis morning

Monique W said...

I was so blessed by this. Delay doesn't mean denial!!

 

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