The other morning I read the chapter in I Kissed Dating Goodbye about having patience while you are single. This is something I need to work on. Because my time is going to come, when the right guy is going to come into my life. "He wants us to learn the patience and trust necessary to wait for His perfect timing in all things. including our love lives." The part in Lord of the Rings comes to mind when Gandalf says "A wizard is never late, nor is he early, but he arrives precisely when he means to." Isn't that so true with God? He's never early, nor late, but He does things precisely when he means to. It's perfect!
Josh Harris says, "Just as spring's role is different from that of fall, so each of the seasons of our lives has a different emphasis, focus, and beauty. One is not better than another; each season yields its own unique treasures. We cannot skip ahead to experience the riches of another life season any more than a farmer can rush the spring. Each season builds on the one before. God has many wonderful experiences He wants to give to us, but He also assigns these experiences to particular seasons of our lives." As I look back on my life, I can see that He does. My life in the last 3 years has not been a pretty one, heck, it's been far from pretty. But He has used those seasons to bring me closer to Him. It wasn't easy, but I am so thankful for it!
How do we have patience? He says "Waiting for God's timing requires trusting in His goodness and wisdom. We develop patience as we trust that God denies us what we think is good only because He has something better for us--both now and in the future." Later he gives a quote from Elisabeth Elliot that I love; "We were being asked to leave the planning to God. God's ultimate plan was as far beyond our imaginings as the oak tree is from the acorn's imaginings. The acorn does what it was made to do, without pestering it's Maker with questions about when and how and why. We who have been given an intelligence and a will and a whole range of wants that can be set against the divine Pattern for Good are asked to believe Him. We are given the chance to trust Him when He says to us, '...if any man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self.'" I know for me, it's easier to trust on some days that He's got a plan than others, but I've found reading scripture helps. Reminding myself, He is in control. (Jeremiah 29:11) He even tells us not to fear, that He is our helper (Isaiah 41:13). (I bet you can tell what my favorite verses are? haha)
There is so much more from this chapter that I want to blog about but I don't want to bore you, or frighten you with a longer post than it already is. So I would encourage you to read this book, but if you don't have time, atleast read this chapter (#6), and let me know what you think. It's very helpful if you find yourself struggling with this as I do.
"God doesn't use our singleness to punish us. He has created this season as an unparalleled opportunity for undistracted devotion to God. And as a time for growth and service that we shouldn't take for granted or allow to slip by. One person rightly stated, "Don't do something about your singlehood--do something with it!".... Singleness is a gift. Let's rejoice in it and enjoy its opportunities today. Let's practice trusting God by pursuing His kingdom and His righteousness with all our hearts and by leaving the planning to Him."
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" - Ecclesiastes 3:1
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