Tag Archives: God’s Timing

Faith, God’s Love, Write 31 Days Challenge 2019

Day 19 in God’s Love- He Has A Plan

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This post was originally written a few years ago, but I have adapted it for the 31 days in God’s Love series. God loves us and has a plan for each of us to enable His work to be carried out.

I think it’s safe to say most of us, if not all of us, had a dream of what we would be when we were older.  A nurse?  A firefighter? A princess? A footballer?  

My dream was to be a teacher.  I use to sit in my room and pretend I was teaching my teddies, and sometimes I even roped my brother into playing!

For years I had this longing I wanted to help other children to fulfill their potential.  I completed pre-teaching courses at college and did a number of work experiences at local schools.  I enjoyed every minute of it and I passed with flying colours.

When the dream doesn’t happen

My dream didn’t quite turn out as I had planned. I only just got through college with my A-Levels and I never went to University.  The government changed the way University fees were to be paid and it was just too much for me to even consider.  

So, yes, I wasn’t even going to get a degree!  Trying to sort out what I was going to do with my life was hard, especially when I didn’t have a degree.  I found the options open to me very limiting.

I decided to take a year out to do some voluntary work to try and get some idea of what I wanted to do with my life.  It was only by chance I ended up working with the Church Army in one of their Volunteer programmes and I moved to London.  Now, 19 years later, I have a lovely family with a wonderful husband and five gorgeous children.

What about the dream?

Maybe, some of us still have that dream though?  What do we do?  Do we give up?

I think there are a few options we can do.  Firstly, we can do something about it by planning how we can live our dream and go for it. Or secondly, we can sit here and accept what has happened.  

Well, I have planned out what I wanted to do…and started it…but it’s just not going anywhere.  I’m not the type of person either to sit around and accept things.

So, maybe there is a third option?

Maybe, it’s not my dream that I should be following. Maybe, this is God’s dream and God’s plan.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8 

What God wants with me and what He wants me to achieve is probably, and most likely, different to what I would like to do.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.  Proverbs 19:21

It’s hard to keep this in mind as a positive perspective though when situations don’t go as well. Especially when family and friends are gone, homes are lost, dreams are shattered…the list goes on.

How do you keep going in the work you are doing then?

I keep this in my mind…

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus Philippians 1:6

God has started something in our lives, and He’s not about to stop now. Our life is not over until He says it’s over, despite how we may feel and no matter what we are going through. Our best days are not what has happened in the past. With God, our greatest days are yet to come!

God has started something in our lives, and He's not about to stop now. Share on X Our best days are not what has happened in the past. With God, our greatest days are yet to come! Share on X

Wherever God leads us, He will provide for us, and He will meet our needs. We just need to remember it’s not the things that matter — our job, our house, or what we achieve.

We are God’s product, and we are made up of the moments that make an impact for God’s Kingdom – the moments are the situations we are going through now! Hang in there. Your work you are doing now is in God’s mighty plan.

Something to think about…

Are you in a place where you feel you shouldn’t be? Try and keep in your mind that it may not be for our benefit why we are there. It may be we are impacting someone else’s lives without realising, and it will be for a greater good…God’s amazing plan!

Prayer

Lord, I have no idea what you have planned for my life right now and what work you want me to do to fulfill your bigger picture. I ask that you send your Holy Spirit to fill me with strength to help me through the times when I find it hard to see what your plan may be. Help me to realise that whatever is happening, it is for your greater good. Amen

Faith, Five Minute Friday

When all is lost, don’t lack patience

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I snapped at a friend once. Straight away I apologised for the use of my sharp tongue. I was getting frustrated and impatient at situations and I just ended up lashing out. 

Anyone ever done that? 

She looked at me graciously and told me not to worry. She thought I was one of the most patient people going, considering I had 5 kids and a ton of things to do. 

I probably would agree with her on that point. I think I am quite patient with people. I tolerate a whole heap before I end up biting someone’s head off. It’s usually with people I am close to that gets a whip of my tongue! 

The reason I am patient with people is because I can see them. I can gauge, more or less, how people may respond and how I would need to respond back accordingly. Plus, I may never see a certain person again for a while, so being patient with them in the moment is easier. 

However, when it comes to situations I find myself in where I am waiting for something to happen, I find myself being like a little girl in a sweet shop wanting what she wants…and now!

At first, I am ok. Slowly though as time progresses and I am still waiting for answers and situations to resolve, I find myself getting restless. When it doesn’t go my way or how I planned, I start to feel angst. I feel I lose control. 

That’s when I start to snap with people. Not because of them, but because of what I am going through. 

I am impatient!

I forget at these times who has me when I lack patience. 

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! Psalm 22:26

In these moments, I forget who walks by my side when I lose my patience. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I forget in these situations who I can turn to when I feel anxious.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

This is what I need to remember next time I lack patience in a situation which does not go my way:

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. Psalm 37:7-9

This was written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content, but only for five minutes (or there abouts).

This weeks word prompt is ‘lack’. Click here if you want to see what other people wrote. You can also have a go yourself. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘lack ’?

Faith, Midst, Trust

Trusting God in the Midst of Uncertainty

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There are times in our lives where circumstances overwhelm us and situations get us down. We find ourselves in a position where we feel swamped with what we are facing.

Why is it we feel like this?

Many times it’s because we are facing change in our lives. We want to be able to control what is changing, but it’s not possible. It’s out of our hands and we get scared.

I felt like this four months ago when my life completely changed.  I found out I was pregnant again.  We already have three beautiful children, but always wanted four. My youngest is now six years old so we kind of gave up trying last year.

We thought the chance of having a fourth child would never happen. We resided ourselves to this fact and started giving away every baby item we had accumulated. When we found out, we were shocked, but absolutely elated about having another child. But then it sunk in…we had given away most of our baby items. Starting over again was going to be costly.

How were we going to manage?

As the weeks went on, slowly I began to feel I was being held. I didn’t feel so worried about the changes taking place. I felt a peace within me which I had never really experienced before. I just knew that everything would be ok.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

However, a few weeks ago we found our lives getting even more complicated. At my twelve week scan, we found out we were having twins! Can you imagine the shock we had? This put a whole new dimension on our lives. Twins? Double the trouble!

The Peace I encountered in the first 3 months slowly was dissipating. Concerns of how we were going to manage had doubled. Plans we had made for our holidays looked like a dream. There was a moment where we couldn’t see how we were going to get through this.

I was in a place where all I could do was just cry. Everything got on top of me and I just sat there with my head in my hands.

“God, if you hear me, please help me?”

I was at the end of my rope, clinging on and not knowing what to do next. I was so overwhelmed. I surprised myself with what I did crying out to God. Why? You may think this is not surprising and it’s what I should do anyway.

However, I very rarely turn to God when I should. I am so independent as a person…and stubborn! I think I know best and I want to figure it out on my own. Maybe, you are like this too? It’s ok. God knows and He is listening to you whether you voice it to Him, or keep it locked up deep inside. He knows.

“From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety.” Psalm 61:2

There is one thing this pregnancy is teaching me, and that is to trust God. From the moment I found out I was pregnant (unexpectedly may I add) to when we found out I was carrying twins (double the shock) I am learning a new found confidence in God. I am having to trust God with all areas of my life…

To trust God that He has me.

To trust God that He knows my anxieties.

To trust God that He will provide.

To trust God that He will sustain me.

When I was in tears, I felt all was lost. The first one I turned to though was God. Through my tears of frustration, anger and disappointment, I cried it all out to Him.

By the end of the day I felt a sense of calm. My situation was not sorted, but I could feel that He was working things out. He knows what our needs are and He will provide for them in the right way.

Something to think about…

Are you going through something right now and it seems like there is no way out? You can’t see which way to turn to make things right. Let me encourage you to turn to God and voice your thoughts to Him. You may not receive an answer straight away, but knowing He is there to hear you gives you a peace that no other can give in this world.

Prayer

Lord, often I find I can deal with situations on my own, or at least I think I can. Sometimes, everything gets on top of me and I feel it’s impossible to find a way out. Nothing is ever impossible for you, God. Help me to remember this, especially when I feel everything around me is crashing down. You are the One who is constant and will always remain by my side, even when I falter. Help me to turn to you more each day. Amen.

Faith, Patience, Trust

The Work We Are Doing Now Is Part of God’s Mighty Plan

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I think it’s safe to say that most of us, if not all of us, had a dream of what we would be when we were older.  A nurse?  A firefighter? A princess? A footballer?  My dream was that I would be a teacher.  I use to sit in my room and pretend that I was teaching my teddies, and sometimes I even roped my brother into playing!

For years I had this longing that I wanted to help other children to fulfill their potential.  I completed pre-teaching courses at college and did a number of work experiences at local schools.  I enjoyed every minute of it and I passed with flying colours.

My dream didn’t quite turn out as I had planned.

I only just got through college with my A-Levels and I never went to University.  The government changed the way that University fees were to be paid, so it was just too much for me to even consider.  So, yes, I wasn’t even going to get a degree!  Trying to sort out what I was going to do with my life was hard, especially when I didn’t have a degree.  I found the options open to me very limiting.

I decided to take a year out to do some voluntary work and to try and get some idea of what I wanted to do with my life.  It was only by chance that I ended up working with the Church Army in one of their Volunteer programmes, and I moved to London.  Now, 17 years later, I have a lovely family with a wonderful husband and three gorgeous children.

What about the dream?

Maybe, some of us still have that dream though?  What do we do?  I think that there is only two options we can do.  We can either do something about it, plan out how we can live our dream and go for it. Or, we can sit here and accept what has happened.  Believe me, I have planned out what I wanted to do…and started it…but it’s just not going anywhere.  I’m not the type of person either to sit around and accept things.

So, maybe there is a third option?

Maybe, it’s not my dream that I should be following. Maybe, this is God’s dream and God’s plan.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8 

What God wants with me and what He wants me to achieve is probably, and most likely, different to what I would like to do.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.  Proverbs 19:21

It’s hard to keep this in mind as a positive perspective though when situations don’t go as well. Especially when family and friends are gone, homes are lost, dreams are shattered…the list goes on.

How do you keep going in the work you are doing then?

I keep this in my mind…

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus Philippians 1:6

God has started something in our lives, and He’s not about to stop now. Our life is not over until He says it’s over, despite of how we may feel and no matter what we are going through. Our best days are not what has happened in the past. With God, our greatest days are yet to come!

God has started something in our lives, and He's not about to stop now. Share on X

Our best days are not what has happened in the past. With God, our greatest days are yet to come! Share on X

Wherever God leads us, He will provide for us, and He will meet our needs. We just need to remember that it’s not the things that matter — our job, our house, or what we achieve. We are God’s product, and we are made up of the moments that made an impact for God’s Kingdom – the moments that we are going through now! Hang in there. Your work that you are doing now is in God’s mighty plan.

Something to think about…

Are you in a place where you feel you shouldn’t be? Try and keep in your mind that it may not be for our benefit why we are there. It may be that we are impacting someone else’s lives without realising, and it will be for a greater good…God’s amazing plan!

Prayer

Lord, I have no idea what you have planned for my life right now and what work you want me to do to fulfill your bigger picture. I ask that you send your Holy Spirit to fill me with strength to help me through the times when I find it hard to see what your plan may be. Help me to realise that whatever is happening, it is for your greater good. Amen

I originally wrote this post as a response to the Five Minute Friday word prompt “work”. Click here to see what other people wrote when they were prompted with this word.

I couldn’t stop at five minutes though as this topic is just so close to my heart at the moment. The waiting period that you go through is heart wrenching at times, but I do believe that what we go through now is part of the bigger picture later on.