I spent all morning today at the airport as my flight was repeatedly delayed and cancelled. (Fortunately, I was put on another flight) Delays - nobody likes them, as we all have a picture of what we want and get attached to a timeline for things to happen or how long it will take to achieve our goals and dreams. When we don’t see our timeline unfolding right away, or we experience delays, we can get frustrated and afraid. If it is a relationship, we want to find and establish a relationship with our perfect partner as soon as possible. If we’re building a career or a business, we want success in months. If we want to master a skill, we expect to be proficient within weeks. However, all great things in life take time to build, and it's important to understand that a delay is not necessarily a denial. Just because it's not happening right now doesn't mean it's not for you or not going to eventuate. Delays can contain great lessons for us and serve a bigger purpose for good in our and others’ lives. Here are some things that delays can do and how you can make a delay work for you: 1. Delays help build stronger foundations. Relationships, careers and skills take time to build and develop, but if care is taken to build the foundation wisely, your relationships, business, or skill will last. Wise people build on rock-solid foundations. (Matthew 7:24-27)
2. Delays prepare and help us develop muscle in our characters, faith and understanding of ourselves and others. 3. Delays enable us to hone our skills and discover ways we can benefit and serve others. We can watch and discern the real needs around us and how we can help. When we practice and choose to learn during delays and waiting periods, we are better equipt to handle and be ready to make the most of opportunities when they come.
4. Delays encourage us to think outside the box. When our way is not working, delays push us to come up with new ideas and ways of thinking about and doing things. 5. Delays teach us to be grateful for what we will receive. When we're doing whatever it takes to nurture and not take for granted what we are working for, delays and differing timelines can make the receipt of what we want much sweeter and appreciated when it arrives. Some things are out of our control, but a delay can teach us to look for our accomplishments and all the progress we've made instead of discounting them just because we're not quite where we want to be. Anything worthwhile takes time. It takes time for things to grow and build. The sooner we accept this, the happier we'll be and less likely to suffer from anxiety and fear of missing out. Today surrender the timeline to God and find your rest and peace in knowing He is in control. (Isaiah 41:10) Next time you experience delays or find yourself struggling with a different timeline from what you envisaged, take the time to discover, explore and make the most of the day, build into your relationships, business or education, hone your skills and trust God and His process. God is not constrained by time or space. He has His timeline and cares about and is perfecting every detail of your life, so I encourage you to roll over your cares and concerns to Him.
Delays can benefit you, and delays are not always denial or a no. Trust God with the process and every step of your journey because He holds everything together in His hands and is working ALL things together for your good. (Romans 8:28)
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Prayer: Lord, thank you that I don't need to be anxious about delays or different timelines because you lead and guide me and are making all things work together for my good. I trust you with every detail of my life. In Jesus name Amen
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