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What God Was Doing While I Was Waiting…

May30

“What I thought was delay was often God developing roots I couldn’t yet see.”
— Kimberly E. Beasley

There are seasons in life when we wonder if anything is happening at all.

We pray. We wait. We trust. We keep putting one foot in front of the other. Yet nothing seems to move according to our plans or our timeline.

Then one day, we look back and realize that while we were waiting, God was working.

It has been several years since my last blog post. In those years, life has unfolded in ways I never could have predicted. I lost my mother. I faced a brain tumor and underwent brain surgery. I navigated the challenges of Cushing’s disease while continuing to manage Lupus and Myositis. I wrote another book. I continued serving, teaching, and watering wherever God sent me. Some seasons were marked by grief, others by healing, and still others by growth that was happening beneath the surface where no one could see it.

Yet even in those moments, God was working. Not always in ways I could see, and not always according to the timeline I would have chosen, but faithfully nonetheless. Looking back, I realize that some of the greatest growth in my life happened during seasons I would never have volunteered for. God was teaching me to trust Him when I did not have answers and to find peace in His presence when circumstances made no sense.

Like many people, I have asked God, “Why now?” and “Why this way?”

What I continue to learn is that God’s timing and our timing are rarely the same.

We often want immediate answers, quick breakthroughs, and visible results. God is often more concerned with preparation than presentation. Before something manifests in our lives, there is usually a season of development taking place that we do not fully understand.

The life of Joseph illustrates this beautifully.

Joseph received a dream from God as a young man. He knew God had spoken, but he could not have imagined the journey that would follow. Before the dream was fulfilled, Joseph experienced betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment. Years passed between the promise and the manifestation.

From a human perspective, those years may have looked like detours.

From God’s perspective, they were preparation.

The pit prepared him.

The prison prepared him.

The waiting prepared him.

Every experience developed the character, wisdom, humility, and leadership Joseph would need when his appointed time arrived.

When Pharaoh called for Joseph, the opportunity appeared suddenly. Yet the truth is that God had been preparing him all along.

The manifestation was sudden.

The preparation was not.

I believe many of us find ourselves somewhere in that preparation process.

We may not understand why certain doors closed, why certain relationships ended, why grief visited our lives, why health challenges appeared unexpectedly, or why the journey has taken longer than expected. Yet Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God is working even when we cannot see it.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Not our time.

His time.

That verse does not suggest that every season feels beautiful while we are living through it. Rather, it reminds us that God sees the complete picture while we only see the current chapter.

Looking back over the last several years, I can see God’s hand in places where I once saw only uncertainty. I can see growth where I once saw delay. I can see purpose where I once saw pain.

The waiting was not wasted.

The losses were not meaningless.

The diagnoses were not without purpose.

The lessons were not accidental.

God was preparing, strengthening, pruning, healing, and teaching.

As I return to this space, my encouragement to you is simple: do not despise the season you are in.

If God has given you a promise, continue to trust Him.

If you are grieving, allow Him to comfort you.

If you are healing, give yourself grace.

If you are growing, embrace the process.

If you are waiting, remember that waiting is not the same as being forgotten.

Continue watering what God has placed in your hands.

Continue learning.

Continue growing.

Continue choosing faith.

When the appointed time comes, what God has been cultivating beneath the surface will become visible.

Until then, trust the process and trust the One who is ordering your steps.

God’s timing is never late.

God’s timing is never wasted.

And God’s timing is always purposeful.

Be Encouraged…Be Blessed…Be Enriched…Be Authentically You!

Not Broken!

Nov30

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I’ve heard people talk about and label themselves and other individuals that have endured some type of traumatic event and having trouble getting beyond the tragedy as being “Broken.”

As I think about the definition of broken: having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order; (of a person) having given up all hope; despairing. These words can have a life threatening effect on someone that believes that they are broken. Who wants to live like that, being labeled as nonfunctional?

I’ve come to believe that people aren’t broken…they’re emotional. We need to throw out these popular sayings and see people and things as they are. When God created man, he created us whole. Nothing broken, nothing lacking. People that are considered broken are seen as fragile and needing careful handling. With some being fit for nothing other than to be thrown away; they’re irreparable. What do you think?

I don’t know about you but I’ve experienced some things in my life I thought I’d never make it through. I felt like giving up. But there was something that kept me from sinking in despair. When we experience traumatic events in our lives they don’t break us, they make us emotional.

You have a right to experience emotions. God gave them to you. Validate your emotions as they appear. Don’t ignore them, acknowledge them. If you have experienced some life altering event you are free to feel what you feel. This doesn’t just apply to things that bring you joy but to the things that have brought you pain as well. Don’t run from your pain. If you run from it, it’ll only meet you at another place in your life. You’ll have to confront it eventually or you’ll be stuck at that event in your life as everything else moves forward. Whatever trauma you may have experienced whether it was abuse, abandonment, betrayal, molestation, rape…etc, no matter what it was or is, know this to be true, “You are NOT broken”…you are emotional and you have a God given right to feel the way you feel. You also have a responsibility to cope with them and be truthful not misapplying them or using them as an excuse to behave erratically.

As we dawn the close of another year, I contemplate what I’ve experienced and what I’ve learned…about Me!  This year has been one of many highs and lows. I experienced health, sickness, happiness and fear. I can go on and on but one thing is evident to me, I’m not broken…I’m emotional!

Commit to becoming emotionally healthy and a good start is by acknowledging you’re not broken.

 

Be Encouraged…Be Blessed…Be Enriched…Be Authentically You!

 

Self-less…Self-ish?

Aug14

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Who said we must care for others before we care for ourselves? So many times we put things and people before our own well-being…Self-less? To be selfless you are more concerned with the needs and wishes of others at your own expense. The majority of the time being selfless will leave you depressed, frustrated, sick and tired. What a reward for your selfless acts. How did we become so acquiescent? Where did this need to be the hero or she-ro for those that summonses come from? What are you lacking within yourself that you’re trying to fulfill by this superficial validation? Why would you constantly want to sacrifice or martyr yourself? Sacrifice by definition means to slaughter and martyr to suffer or die; what have you done that warrants such retribution? Don’t you love yourself? You should never put anyone or anything before the precious being God created that is…You! You have a right to take care of you first. Anyone that says differently ask them to neglect themselves for you and see what happens. Self-ish…isn’t altogether a bad thing. You have need of yourself. You’re just as important as anyone else in your life. If you are having trouble reconciling that being somewhat selfish isn’t bad, consider this. Taking care of yourself is a great selfless act especially when you consider others that will benefit from your sacrifice. If you want to be strong enough and healthy enough to care for a sick loved one, you must take care of yourself; mind, body and spirit. If you want to be an asset to your employer; you’re no benefit if you’re sick and having to always call in. You must take care of yourself in order to be able to function at peak performance. You can do this by having a healthy and balanced diet. Drinking plenty of water. You can’t forget to get adequate rest and relaxation. Be mindful of what you’re feeding your mind. Meditate, deep breathe and laugh as much as you can. These are a just a few sacrifices you can make. I know you’re concerned about how much time this could possible take. Know this…Our lives have an expiration date. Your time is limited here and the time you have already redeemed you can’t get a refund. You have spent years being accommodating to others; you can use some of your time left here accommodating you. Don’t you have goals, dreams or aspirations you want to achieve? Maybe…Maybe Not? Unfortunately if you use your remaining days devoted to living everyone else’s life, no one is living yours. And as for your goals, dreams or aspirations, if not accomplished, they will expire with you. You are in control of you and you are responsible for your life. No one else. Consider yourself. If you don’t take care of you…who will?

Be Encouraged…Be Blessed…Be Enriched…Be Authentically You!

What’s The Matter With The World?

Jul22

My mother and I were talking today and she mentioned this song, so I decided to look it up and listen to it. I love music with a message. This song was definitely appropriate for this time. There is nothing wrong with the world, just the people in it! Everything bad in this world is a result of its residents. It is people who steal, kill and destroy. It is people who practice racism, sexism and classism. It is people who justify immorality and corruption. It is people who are hypocritical and confused as to who they are. So what’s the matter with the world? Nothing…all is perfect and in harmony; but as for its people…we’ve got a lot of work to do.

Be Encouraged…Be Blessed…Be Enriched…Be Authentically You!

There’s Hope

Jun24

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No matter how dark your darkness may be, there’s still sparkles of light. Steady yourself…shift your focus rather to see the light instead of the all encompassing darkness. There is always hope; but YOU must be willing to see it.

 

Be Encouraged…Be Blessed…Be Enriched…Be Authentically You!

There’s Nothing To Fear!

Apr15

The Jonah complex is the fear of success which prevents self-actualization, or the realization of one’s potential. It is the fear of one’s own greatness, the evasion of one’s destiny, or the avoidance of exercising one’s talents. Just as the fear of achieving a personal worst can motivate personal growth, the fear of achieving a personal best can also hinder achievement.
Maslow states, “So often we run away from the responsibilities dictated (or rather suggested) by nature, by fate, even sometimes by accident, just as Jonah tried—in vain—to run away from his fate”.

What fears are hindering you?

Atelophobia- Fear of imperfection or not being good enough.
Athazagoraphobia- Fear of being forgotten or ignored.
Atychiphobia- Fear of failure.
Autophobia- Fear of being oneself.
Catagelophobia- Fear of being ridiculed.
Cenophobia or Centophobia- Fear of new things or ideas.
Cherophobia-Fear of gaiety, happiness, joyfulness, rejoicing
Decidophobia- Fear of making decisions.
Doxophobia- Fear of receiving praise.
Eleutherophobia- Fear of freedom.
Ergasiophobia- Fear of work or functioning.
Euphobia- Fear of hearing good news.
Geliophobia- Fear of laughter.
Gelotophobia- Fear of being laughed at.
Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia- Fear of responsibility.
Metathesiophobia- Fear of changes.
Prosophobia- Fear of progress.
Rhabdophobia- Fear of being criticized.

No fear is too great for you to overcome. Within you lies the power to conquer them all. If you change your thoughts, your feeling and results will ultimately change too. The person who thinks he is able is able. Conquer your thoughts and you’ll conquer your fears.

There is an old African Proverb that states “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.” Fear is your enemy within!
Be Encouraged…Be Blessed…Be Enriched…Be Authentically You!

What Are You Saying?

Nov11

Sometimes we convey the wrong message. If you change your words you can change your world!

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed, Be Enriched, Be Authentically You!

Serenity Prayer

Oct17

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

–Reinhold Niebuhr

A simple prayer that requires daily application.  Most people merely recite it neglecting the application and aimlessly expect results.  Peace is one thing we lack most in this life. The author asks for serenity/peace to accept the things that cannot be changed. With life comes unchangeable circumstances more so than not. This is were most people waste a lot of their time and energy…COMPLAINING about things they cannot change. Mainly trying to change other people. People are going to be who they are no more no less…you don’t control that. Make peace with life and accept what is. Know your place and stay in it. When you apply this you’ll alleviate undue stress and strife.

Courage to change the things I can… The one thing I’ve found that people fear changing the most are themselves. If you focus your attention on changing you rather than everyone else your peace will increase. No matter where you go or what you do peace will encompass you. All because of your courage to change. Maya Angelou said it this way “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” Mohandas Gandhi said “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Bottom line the only thing you have the power to change is your mind.

Be Blessed, Be Encouraged…Be Authentically You!