As we sit in different seasons in our lives, it’s all too easy to want to race ahead. An exciting interview might lead to a better job, which will hopefully pay for a new car, and the car will be perfect for that trip we want to take. Before you even have the interview, it’s possible you’ve already planned all the places you want to see on your trip. But this race we run with the Lord is not about what we want to do; it’s about who we want to be. God does not want us to get ahead of ourselves and commands us not to get ahead of Him.
“Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” James 5:7-8
My oldest daughter is nine and definitely inherited a desperate need to be on time from my husband. (He was raised in a military household; I was raised in a lenient one.) We live far from school so we know we will spend about 30 minutes in the car before school every day. The traffic is unpredictable, and so are the morning habits of my youngest daughter, which brings great stress to my oldest. This morning, the roads were pretty clear and we were on schedule to be on time. But that was not good enough for my sometimes anxious, mostly responsible nine-year-old.
“Mama, we are going to be late.”
“No, we aren’t honey. Try and relax. Pray your stress away.”
“If only I could have thought ahead. I could have changed all the clocks in school last night! If I had turned them all back ten minutes then we wouldn’t be cutting it so close!”
How many times do we do this to God? We want to reach above His throne to adjust the arms on His sacred clock, to change His plans to fit our immediate needs, to desecrate His Holy timing instead of trusting in it. In good moments or bad, we tend to rush ahead. Oh how He calls us to slow down and submit to Him instead. The track from us to Him is not a rat race, it’s the grace race.
- When we are tired and lose focus, we know the power of our God to forgive the entire world for their sins with His one and only Son. Knowing our Almighty Father brings us supernatural strength.
- When we hurt and want to quit, we know our God would not allow pain if it did not lead to freedom. Knowing His plan of redemption is already complete brings us peace that surpasses all understanding.
- When someone else stumbles beside us, we remember all the times God’s compassion outlived our own mistakes. Knowing His limitless love inspires us to help others in their races, instead of leaving them behind.
God invites us onto the track for a race of grace. It starts with all of us and ends with all of Him. If we, as Christians, are patient, humble, honest, and obedient, we slowly transform into Him along the way. And at the end, we raise our hearts and arms in celebration of God and all His glory, not ours.
All for HIS glory,
Amanda loves everything Texas and everything Jesus. She squeezes in as much time reading and writing as possible in between raising two precious girls and doing her best to love and respect her firefighter husband. She knows how empty life was without God and is forever grateful for the handful of people who led her to the Lord.
Amanda is one of those extroverted introverts and had to learn how to place God’s armor over the heart on her sleeve. Her desire is for women all over the world to know God adores them so they can return to, and remain in, their intended identity- His.
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Friends, we are excited to announce our next study, Fear & Anxiety: Learning to Overcome with God’s Truth!
Begins: February 26th
You can grab your copy of this powerful 6-week study on Amazon here!
This was such a blessing. Thank You Father for this study today. Thank You for speaking through my sister in Christ about patience. God has been dealing with me for year regarding patience, especially when it comes to waiting for Him to bring someone in my life as a life partner. I have been through so much pain trying to do things on my own and this year, so far, I am at a place of contentment and walking in patience. When Amanda says “…God would not allow pain if it did not lead to freedom” it immediately spoke to my heart and my life confirms that very statement. I love the analogy of the farmer in the scripture because it’s such an awesome picture of waiting and receiving what we need from the Lord in any circumstance. It also, represents the fruit we bear and carry as a representation of the Lord. Praise God!!!
Yolanda,
Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your story today. Praying with you for continued patience, peace and answered prayers in your life. God Bless You!
Dearest Yolanda, I too know the pain and trouble I caused when I chose a life partner without asking Him first! It took me many years to realize what I had done wrong and to learn how to things God’s way. You already have Him with you!! Take great comfort in that, my friend! And thank you for encouraging me by sharing words that connected with you. I am praying with you for your continued patience and trusting His provision for you!!
Thank you! I also struggle with trying to control God’s timing. Thanks so much for this “reminder”.
Tashina,
Thank you for being with us today. We all struggle with this in our lives and need to be reminded from time to time. God Bless You!
Thank you for reminding us we’re not alone! We all struggle with putting our plans ahead of His. When I don’t yield to His nudgings, He’ll either slow me down or shut me down completely. Praise God for knowing what’s best for us!
Thank you for your words today!
Thank you for joining us!!
As I read this I would have thought Jesus wrote it personally to me today! As the years pass I grow more anxious and less patient. Ive thought of a different job, I need a new car and I hate being late. I was just prompted to look up women’s bible studies and I read this!
Yesterday I was very hurt by a fellow believer. Ive been hurt by being left out by fellow co-workers, everything I read touched me, softened the blow.
Oh Sue! How sweet of you to bless me with encouragement when you are standing in hurt right now. The feelings that come from being purposely left out or accidentally hurt are all too familiar to me as well. It wasn’t until I found a community of grace-filled friends that pointed me to Christ when I felt whole and accepted. Please don’t let people make you feel set aside when God has truly set you apart. And welcome to the Love God Greatly community!! We’re starting a new study on Fear and Anxiety in a few weeks and it’s easy to get placed in a study group! I hope you’ll join us!!
Three years ago I felt God placing on my heart that it was time to move closer to family. My husband disagreed. God kept speaking into my heart to trust Hiim and He would work it out. Three years later my husband is on board and we have both put out numerous job applications and we have good experiences with good resumes but every door has been closed. I know that we are to wait for God’s timing. Three years of waiting and praying has worn me down. Thank you for your words of encouragement today. I do not want to rush ahead of His plan.
Lacey, what a beautiful example of patience you are!! Three years is a long time but I’m inspired by your refusal to give up on Him! And just think- three years is a speck compared to eternity with God!! Stay the course and I know you will be blessed. Love to you, sister!