Unexpected Delay

“Traffic reported ahead!”  These are words we are all familiar with. Here we are, riding in the car, on our way to our destination. Suddenly, those dreaded words: “Traffic reported ahead.” We are now looking at a sea of red! Brake lights are in front of us. The map on Waze turns red. We are now stuck in traffic. 

Traffic is a nightmare. No one really likes it. Why? Because it generally causes us to sit and wait. The ETA that was originally set, is now delayed. We have no choice but to sit and wait, or find an alternative route.  This can be extremely frustrating, especially when you planned well. 

April of 2023 I began a journey of what I thought would only be about 3 months.  This journey has taken 1 full year. Talk about a traffic jam. In this traffic jam, I had no exit ramp to take. There were no alternate routes. I was “stuck” in the middle lane, with nothing to do but wait. Waiting can be hard, frustrating, or boring. Here you are, just sitting, with nothing to do but wait. 

In October of 2023, I stepped off the plane in Texas, thinking I had a 30 day wait. After all, I was embarking on a journey the Lord had led me on. Surely He would speed up the process.  Little did I know, this journey would take months.

While waiting, there was nothing I could do to speed up the process. I had to find a way to just sit and be. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God”.  And to be honest, I struggled with this. Why? Because I didn’t want to “sit still”. I didn’t like the idea of waiting. However, I soon learned that God was doing some things in the background. I just needed to simply “be” and let Him work. While, He was (and is) working, there were (and still are) assignments I was to complete. I could not use the excuse “I don’t have time” because after all, here I am sitting in the “traffic jam” of life. I had 2 choices: sit and do nothing, or simply, while waiting, do what God had called me to do. 

Now, I will admit, at first, I chose option 1. I was simply going to sit and do nothing. I was expecting God to work and I didn’t have to do anything. I soon learned that was not going to work. I had to get busy doing what He called me to do. When I started doing what He had called me to do, I soon found I did not have time to worry or focus on the “traffic jam” that was around me. I was too busy working to even notice it.  My focus had shifted from what was not happening, to rather what was happening. I found that what was happening was I was growing in God. I began to see how He was working in, through, and around me. I even began to see how the “traffic jam” kept me from danger ahead. For in the “delay” He was keeping me from hurt, harm, and danger. He was also keeping me from one of my biggest threats: self!

Remember, “self” wanted to rush the process. “Self” wanted to hurry up and get things over with. “Self” tried to hurry God.  “Self”, was out of line and would have missed out on the many blessings that God was preparing for me.  God reminded me that, I prayed a year ago “God show up and show out in such a way that we know it was nobody but You!”  Well, He did that and more! God worked in the “exceeding and abundantly above all I could ask or think” way. 6 months ago, I left what I knew, trusted God, and moved across the country. The journey was not easy. There were many tears and a few tantrums. But God reminded me of His word: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” and asked me “Do you trust Me?” So through the tears, tantrums, and delays, I trusted, moved as He said move, and did what He said do.  I spent 6 months in a hotel (talk about delay and traffic jam) but in trusting God, I saw Him open doors no man could open. Today,I can say: I am no longer in a hotel, but I am a homeowner. God provided the exceeding and abundantly “blow my mind’ blessing.”  

Habakkuk 2:3 says  “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”  God will keep His promises. Trust Him and His timing. Do not get distracted by the “traffic jam” or “unexpected delay”  Stay the course and watch God move!

Sarah

#trustthetiming