The waiting game is a hard one…when we were children, it seemed like we waited seemingly forever for our birthday, Christmas, or summer vacation to roll around each year. But when school finally closed at the end of June and summer vacation began, time seemed to stand still. We savoured each lazy, hot, and sunny day that we were given. After we become adults, there may be less anticipation of a holiday or event, and time seems to fly by as we become older and older. Indeed, we may eventually dread the coming of a celebration such as Christmas! If we allow it, the commercialization of certain religious days can swallow up our money, time, and energy; we actually look forward to taking down those beautiful decorations that we put up in late November or early December. If we are fortunate enough to be “retired”, waking up every day may seem like the weekend, and so days off become less special as we age. It really is rather sad. And that is just a brief description of how things that we look forward to can change over time! Everything eventually becomes mundane and worldly.
When we are going through a dark period in our lives, waiting for things to turn around can be even more discouraging and dire. Our downright wrong or negative thinking can get in the way of progress and positive change. (Sometimes, the devil himself puts these ideas into our mind.) When things are bad, and we feel a loss of control over our situation, and nothing we do, think, or say in our own strength is helping things work out, we often turn to God for answers. As the days, weeks, months, and years go on, and not much has changed or things have actually worsened, we may cry out to Him in frustration and even anger. Why does He not hear us and answer our prayers when everything would be so much better if He did? Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to that age-old question. Often, He does make us wait for the solution, but I believe that God begins to work out our problems, the first time that we ask Him for help. We do not easily see what He is up to, but even if we don’t get exactly what we wish for, God will work things out for those who love him. It says in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
We have to remember that God is always in our corner, IF we are in His will and purpose for our lives. However, if we get off course, He may allow or even cause a painful correction in order to get us back on track. Along the way, He is molding and shaping our character to be more like his, and He is ultimately teaching us to trust and obey him in all things. Yes, I have most certainly felt the pain of God’s corrective hand, and sometimes the lesson has gone on for years and years! It seems I can sometimes be a slow learner. The temptation to “beg” God for help in times of trial and tribulation is always strong, but I have more recently learned that it is far better to thank God for answering our prayers, even if it seems that He is not always listening. He is! My husband, Paul, firmly believes that we must keep praying until we get the answer, and the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances…” This has been a very hard lesson for me to learn, as I tend to get discouraged when I am in the valley. Sometimes, I believe that God allows us to be placed in difficult situations (and may even keep us there for awhile), in order to be a testimony for others. Wonderful results can eventually emerge out of horrendous deeds and situations.
That is a big part of the reason why I decided to write my memoir, Hold On My Child…Joy Comes in the Morning. It is so heartwarming to hear from many different readers how my story is an encouragement to them in their own journey. Thank you for taking the time to read my book, and please pass it along to others who may benefit from reading it! Happy New Year to you and yours, and may 2024 be our best year yet!
God Bless,
Rebecca
