Delays aren’t always bad…

I have learned that often times, I  hear God the best when I have to wait.  It usually comes, after I surrender and quit complaining.  I always heard growing up that our timing is not God’s timing. That is so true.  We live in a day where microwaves don’t even cook fast enough!   Years ago, my husband and I were at a crossroads in our life.  We had big decisions to make for our family and none seemed like very good options.  It was a very discouraging spot to be in.

We were pastoring a small church and although we loved the people, we were square pegs trying to fit into round holes!  After much prayer, we decided it was time for us to resign. That seemed simple enough but where were we to go?  What were we supposed to do?  How would we provide for our children?  Do we look like complete failures to our friends and family?  During this time, we had to short sell our home and my husband packed up and went to stay at his dad’s because he had a short-term job opportunity.  We knew that a short-term job was better than no job at all.  I stayed behind to pack up our home and tried to keep things as normal for our 3 little girls as I could.  A few weeks later he came and loaded us up and took us with him.   This began what I like to call a year of waiting, wondering and sometimes dreading.  The five of us moved into my father in laws basement, it had one bedroom, a bathroom, and a little sitting room area.  We were a bit close for comfort at times but very grateful for a place to stay.

Every day was an emotional struggle, we had lost our home, we had no money, we had no direction and I felt very isolated.  My second to oldest would miss the bus almost every morning and would run back to me crying.  My kids went through a huge adjustment and not necessarily for the better, we would only learn in the years to come how hard that time in our lives was for them.  I did continue to trust God, some days I would let Him know that I was not enjoying the situation and wish He would hurry and do what only He could do.  Have you ever been there?  Every single morning I gave myself a pep talk that would help me get through the day.  God always seemed to give me little glimpses that He was in control and He knew all we were going through.

 Approximately 3 months later a dear friend of our family called and was telling me that they were being moved to San Diego for a year or two for a job.  They did not want to rent out their home and wanted to make sure it was taken care of while they were away.   They asked us if we would like to move in rent free.  Who does that!  We were blown away and immediately saw the hand of God.  God came through with what I would call uncommon grace for our family.  A grace so amazing that he did not just provide a roof, he put us up in a beautiful townhouse.  It was nestled in gorgeous oak trees and very quiet.  It was almost like a little retreat. I share this because God wants what is best for us, a roof at that point would have been sufficient but He said I am not going to just give you a roof, I want you to enjoy life in the waiting.  Within a couple of weeks, God provided a steady job for my husband.  The craziest part of this story was 8 months later we took a position and needed to move.  We felt terrible leaving their place being we were given the  responsibility of taking care of it until they returned home.  Come to find out, they were dreading talking to us because their time was cut short and they were needing to return home.  Coincidence?  Not at all, God’s hand taking care and providing even when things seemed hopeless.  I have heard God works in mysterious ways…No, God works in uncommon ways!   There were countless ways we saw God’s grace in our lives during that year.  Hebrews 13:5 says “Keep your lives free from the love of money, be satisfied with what you have.  God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”  We tried to do that and we know God was with us the whole time.

 In that year of delay which literally went from August 1998- August 1999 God was preparing a place for us.  I encourage you, try not to be discouraged in the delays. God has good plans for you, He wants you to enjoy life and trust Him even in the waiting.  Remember that sometimes delays provide you protection and often times God is just preparing something better for you.   I urge you to trust God in your delays and see if you can recognize God’s uncommon grace in your life.

 Until next time…