Patience is a virtue, as the saying goes. But sometimes it's so difficult to wait, especially when what you're waiting for is good and you feel like you could do with it 'right now'! But, sometimes, God asks us to wait. We don't always get what we want when we ask for it, not because God doesn't want to give it to us, but because it may not be the right time; He may be preparing it for us, or preparing us for it.

 

As Christians, we're called to trust God with every aspect of our lives, including our work, relationships, goals and aspirations. But what do you do when it seems like you've been trusting God for a very long time and it’s just not happening?

 

We must remember that delay is not denial. The fact that something is taking a long time to come to fruition doesn't mean that it will never happen. Think of it like this; you wouldn't give your child food that wasn't cooked thoroughly, no matter how much they screamed and begged for it. You would only give it to them when it was ready, in its best state. It's the same principle with God; He gives us what is good for us, but only when it is ready and will not cause us pain or grief.

 

We must also be ready. I'll give you an example from my own experience. I wanted to get married at 22. I felt like it was a good age to be married and I wanted to have all my kids by the time I was 30. Now God had other plans for me and it didn't quite happen how I wanted but when I look back now, I'm so glad I didn't get married then; I had very little idea who I was or what I wanted in life! Marriage is not something that you go into lightly and I just wasn’t ready. God knew that, even though I didn’t. Marriage is just one example, but if that is what you desire, bear in mind that God may be preparing you in the different situations you find yourself, so that when you finally get married, it is not stressful or burdensome for you or your spouse.

 

For you, it may not be marriage, it may be something else, like starting a family, or a new job, or a new house. Don't give up hope. Don’t think ‘it’ll never happen for me’. God may be preparing something very special for you, and He does make all things beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He will reward your faithfulness. Use the season you're in to prepare, to develop yourself and to plan.  

 

If God is asking you to wait, trust that He is faithful and will grant your heart's desire at the right time.

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