Waiting...A Bookish Comparison
I am not a patient person. For years now people have asked me "What is God teaching you right now?" and m answer has consistently been "Patience...still."
Why is patience such a hard character quality to grasp? Perhaps because our instant society is just that: Instant! We want what we want WHEN we want it, and we always want it NOW! Thanks to modern technology & services, we usually have our way.
Over the past years I have had to wait for many things: ideas for my books, a publisher, editing, a car, the chance to visit my awesome brother, etc... And of course there's also the mundane, little things (lines at the grocery store, cookies in the oven, a turn in the shower) :)
But if you are like me, there is one thing in particular that I've been waiting for, and that - quite frankly - I don't want to wait much longer for! That would be marriage - a husband! This may sound totally silly to some, but when you really think about it, God has placed in our hearts a desire to love and be loved, and I believe it pleases Him when we are patient enough to wait for the spouse He is preparing for us.
So we read our romances, we watch our Jane Austens & Elizabeth Gaskells, and we strum our fingers on the table saying, "Well where is he?!? This Mr. Right who's supposed to sweep me off my feet and carry me into the sunset?!" ;D I know this all sounds really random (especially on an author's blog) but I thought of an analogy today that connected these thoughts for me, and that I hope will encourage you...
A week ago I got an email that said a bok I had ordered had been shipped. Yay! I was so excited, because this book is #3 in a series I've been reading and I was just finishing #2! So I figured it would take 3 - 4 days like all my other books have! So I waited. And waited. And checked the mail. And waited. And still it hasn't come! >:[ I've been so impatient! "Well where is it?!? This great book that's supposed to complete the series satisfactorily?!" (sound familiar?)
And then...today...it hit me!
Just as I'm waiting impatiently for this book and the rest of the story, I've been impatient as a single woman, waiting for my groom to come and begin the next part of my life story! But I know that when this book does come, I'll read it and love it, and I'll come to the conclusion that it was well WORTH the wait!
Comparison? I need to trust that God will bring me and my future hubby together in just the right and perfect time (when His work in our lives is complete) and then I will surely come to the conclusion the he was well WORTH the wait!
No matter how long I think it is taking, it is still in God's time...and God is never late (even if He's not early either) ;)
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:3-4
Why is patience such a hard character quality to grasp? Perhaps because our instant society is just that: Instant! We want what we want WHEN we want it, and we always want it NOW! Thanks to modern technology & services, we usually have our way.
Over the past years I have had to wait for many things: ideas for my books, a publisher, editing, a car, the chance to visit my awesome brother, etc... And of course there's also the mundane, little things (lines at the grocery store, cookies in the oven, a turn in the shower) :)
But if you are like me, there is one thing in particular that I've been waiting for, and that - quite frankly - I don't want to wait much longer for! That would be marriage - a husband! This may sound totally silly to some, but when you really think about it, God has placed in our hearts a desire to love and be loved, and I believe it pleases Him when we are patient enough to wait for the spouse He is preparing for us.
So we read our romances, we watch our Jane Austens & Elizabeth Gaskells, and we strum our fingers on the table saying, "Well where is he?!? This Mr. Right who's supposed to sweep me off my feet and carry me into the sunset?!" ;D I know this all sounds really random (especially on an author's blog) but I thought of an analogy today that connected these thoughts for me, and that I hope will encourage you...
A week ago I got an email that said a bok I had ordered had been shipped. Yay! I was so excited, because this book is #3 in a series I've been reading and I was just finishing #2! So I figured it would take 3 - 4 days like all my other books have! So I waited. And waited. And checked the mail. And waited. And still it hasn't come! >:[ I've been so impatient! "Well where is it?!? This great book that's supposed to complete the series satisfactorily?!" (sound familiar?)
And then...today...it hit me!
Just as I'm waiting impatiently for this book and the rest of the story, I've been impatient as a single woman, waiting for my groom to come and begin the next part of my life story! But I know that when this book does come, I'll read it and love it, and I'll come to the conclusion that it was well WORTH the wait!
Comparison? I need to trust that God will bring me and my future hubby together in just the right and perfect time (when His work in our lives is complete) and then I will surely come to the conclusion the he was well WORTH the wait!
No matter how long I think it is taking, it is still in God's time...and God is never late (even if He's not early either) ;)
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:3-4
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Alyssa
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Nov 09, 2012 02:58PM
Thank you for such an encouraging blog post! This is something that has been on my heart for a while lately. :) I love planning, and struggle with leaving some things up to God. He has a perfect plan, though, and until He decides it's time for me to meet "The Guy," He is my perfet Bridegroom and Savior. :) I love praying for my hubby-to-be (whoever he may be), and also working on being a better servant. :D
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I'm so glad you were encouraged! I was encouraged myself today when I thought of this and realized how silly I was being over a book! :) Even though a spouse is much more important and life-changing than a mere paperback, it is silly when I act as if I can't trust God to bring Hubby at the perfect time.And you are right! Christ is our perfect Bridegroom and Savior, and we should be able to come to the point where we say "I'm content with You and You alone, even if its Your will that I never marry." Kinda scary to think, but it is a possibility! He has a plan for our lives that will bring the greatest glory to Him!
Thank you so much for the encouragement! This sounds like me, despairing of love at 16! Thank you for this! :)
Soph wrote: "Thank you so much for the encouragement! This sounds like me, despairing of love at 16! Thank you for this! :)"Aww, thank you Soph! And don't despair!! ;D
UPDATE!! 11 days later...I got my book in the mail today!!! I'm so excited :) Its in great condition and I've already reached chapter 4!Conclusion: It was well worth the wait ;D
YAY! It was worth waiting for - as are most things in life :)
So true :)Another interesting note - it didn't come any sooner than the seller told me it would come, but it also didn't come any later :) Reminds me that God has a perfect time, and things don't need to happen any sooner or later than He wills it too!
