How Long Do I Have To Wait!

Do you have a dream in your heart that is feeling like it will never happen?

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”  Romans 12:12

Almost 23 years ago, I was standing on a chair cleaning the top of a cupboard, absolutely exhausted, when a strong picture flashed into my mind. A friend and I were cleaning the unit I was living in, getting ready to move because in 12 days I was getting married and I was moving into our new house. My husband-to-be couldn’t help as he was covered from head to toe in Chicken Pox (that’s a WHOLE other story.)

Back to the picture in my mind. It was so strong and so beautiful. It was something that I could never have dreamed of but I thought, “I would totally LOVE that!” I guessed it must have been from God because it was something that I hadn’t really thought about or even thought possible. I was only just learning to hear God’s voice and some of the other ways that He speaks to me so this came as a shock. I wrote it down and drew what I saw. I think of that picture often.

14½ years later I am getting out of our car in the garage and the Lord says, “I want you to pack up your house as though you are going to move, and you have exactly 2 weeks to do it.” Pardon? Now understand, I was very used to the Lord asking me to do weird things, but not on such a large scale. The absolute worst part was – I had to tell people. I sooooooo did not want to do that! I have learnt that obedience is imperative to blessing and I did not want to disappoint God.

I felt very stupid but we packed up the house as we were told ………. and waited. We prayed …. and waited. We fasted …. and waited. We cried and yelled …. and waited. We rejoiced …. and waited. 4 days ago, it was 5 years to the day since we put our house into boxes.

WHERE IS THE PROMISE? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??????

Do you have a dream in your heart that you know is from God? Do you totally know that it is what you were born to do? Are you in the waiting season?

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we DO NOT GIVE UP.” Galatians 6:9

3 years after we had packed, I asked God why He was not talking to me about the promise anymore. His answer was simple. “You have not done the last thing I asked you to do.” Ouch! I went and did it immediately and He began talking to me about it again. Keep being obedient if you want your dream to come to pass – every step of the way.

I have learnt so many things since we have been living out of boxes. Admittingly, we did unpack the necessities and all of the homeschooling items but everything else is still in boxes. Giving up was definitely an option but something in my gut just wouldn’t let me unpack, even now. It honestly feels like I would be disobedient if I did. I can’t do it.

Some of the lessons learned.

• God didn’t actually say we would move then. He only said to “pack”. (Rats! I missed that part.)
• We have learned even more about spiritual warfare and how to fight our battles in the prayer closet in the last 5 years than we ever have before.
• God is the only One that we can trust 100%. He will never leave us.
• We really don’t need as much as we thought we did. I have gotten rid of over 30 boxes of ‘stuff’. There are even more boxes that we haven’t touched so they can go too.
• We discovered who believed in us and who didn’t. We basically lost nearly all of our friends in these 8 years. It has been a very painful time.

The biggest thing that we have developed is our love for Jesus. There has been times when He is all we have had. The amazing part is – He is ALL we need. It’s not until you discover this truth for yourself that you can really put your trust in Him.

We are still packed as of September 2019 and it is still confusing as to why we are still here. I know we will move, but when? I still cry, I still rejoice, I still get frustrated and ask God “Why?” All that I know is, I was not ready 8 years ago for whatever ministry God is moving us into. I needed much healing in my heart. I needed to embark on a journey of homeschooling. I needed to begin to know who Jesus is for me – personally – not just the Jesus they preach about in church, but who He is to and for me. 

Do you need to discover Jesus for who he ACTUALLY is, not for you have been told He is? It’s worth it, trust me. Your life will never look the same.

Do we look and sound ridiculous? You bet, but Jesus never promised that we wouldn’t (Matthew 5:11-12). He told us honestly, that life would be hard. If this is the worst we have to suffer, the ridicule of others, then we have nothing to complain about.

Can you relate? Are you waiting on the promised husband or child who has not yet arrived? Are you waiting for healing to come that seems so far beyond your reach, you wonder is it worth still hoping for? Is there a dream ministry that you are waiting to launch with great gusto but the timing isn’t right?

Please, please, please, DON’T GIVE UP! God is faithful and is not a man that He should lie (1 Samuel 15:29). If He has given you a promise, hold onto it. Remind God of His promise every day. Ask Him if there is a part that you need to play in the fulfillment of your promise. If not, then wait. Keep praising God – even though your hope is deferred. Keep rejoicing in Him – even when the pain is excruciating. Keep hoping – even when your heart feels as though it has shattered into a gazillion pieces and you are crying gut-wrenching tears.

Is it hard? YES! Sometimes I yell at God (yes I do) and say, “What’s the point? What are You doing?” But, all that I know is, God is with us. He has given us steps to do along the way. He has taught our family so many things that we would definitely not have learned any other way. Is it worth it? I believe so but I will tell you for sure when the dream and promise are realised.

Watch this space ……….

Do you have a promise or desire that is yet to be fulfilled? I would love to hear about it and pray for you. Please share in the comments below and I will pray for the Lord to move in your life.

As always, many blessings to you.