Who Put Her in Charge?

Do you ever feel behind without actually being behind? There are so many untold timelines that we as a society put on ourselves to reach certain milestones by a certain age. In all reality it leaves us feeling rushed on one hand but depending on the milestone it could leave us feeling like there is something wrong with us for not getting there sooner or even lacking the want to get there at all.

Maybe it is the want to travel, to have a house, to start a family-whatever your milestone maybe start thinking about it now because I am sure we all have something that we haven't accomplished yet in life that we want to. Did you think of it?

Now, why do you want to accomplish this? Is it because society has told us we should or is it something that you know deep down you are either meant to do or you know it will truly bring you joy? I'll share mine, well one of mine.....I feel behind when it comes to having kids. While I want to have kids someday, and well somedays the urge is stronger than others ;) most of the time I am not ready. Yes, on one hand, I do want to have a couple more years where it is just my husband and me on the other I don't want to be left behind by my friends as they transition to a new stage of life. I also want to be in a better spot financially, I want to do some more traveling, I'd like to move into a different house. And well all these things take time and time is precious. Yet somehow I find myself wanting to rush it time and time again!

However, I soon start to realize my timeline and God's may not line up and that is something I have had to surrender to over and over. When I wanted to be married I had to be patient and guess what the timing was just right, God worked it all out. When I wanted to switch jobs, again God worked it out. So while I know I want to accomplish so much more in life I do have to surrender to God's plans for my life and not my own. Another thing I had to let go of was the comparison.

I think the comparison game is at an all-time high right now, with the ability to see so much in front of us from all over the country, all over the world, in an easy-to-access scrolling capability right from our fingertips! I have had to learn that comparing my life to anyone else's life isn't going to get me what I think I want. Now I can still have wants and desires I am not saying you need to toss them all in the air and just see what happens. I am not saying to stop taking action on your goals. What I am saying is that we need to surrender to not everything going to plan, to not everything happening right when we think it should.

Remember Abraham and Sarah, God promised to give them a child. Yet in their minds, they knew their age and they were impatient they didn't trust God that He could pull through on His timeline. So they began to take things into their own hands, before God's time, yet God did still bless them with a child in His time. I take two things from these events, one, while we may not understand God's plan or understand His timing, He will do what He says He is going to do. So what that means for you and me is that He will give your life meaning, He has a purpose for each one of us, so lean in and surrender to where God may be leading you! Second, Abraham and Sarah rushed things, they took control, I don't know about you but I tend to take life by the reigns and hold a little too hard. It is good to know that we can repent from our ways and God will still provide! The strength we think we have on our plans is not enough to ruin God's plans for our life should we turn back to Him!

Alright, back to your goal, is it one that you truly deep down want? Did you have this whole perfect timeline of how your life should play out? Yeah me too. But guess what? I will say it again YOU and I are not in charge! We can think we are, we can try to be, but when we start to loosen the tight grip we have on our life that is where we can actually start to find the joy. Now I am still working on this daily and I am by no means a master at this. Even when I start to accomplish goals there will always be another one to start chasing. So I have learned it is not about being behind it is about surrendering to God's timing for your life, not your own. He tells us He has plans for our lives, for our present and our future. He has no intention to harm us or lead us down the wrong path, so hold tight or should I say hold loose?

We can be patient, (easier said than done I know) waiting for God to carry things out. This does not mean sitting idly by but rather living a life waiting in action. Keep on taking the next step having faith that God will bless it because that is what He asks us to do. So the next time you may start feeling behind just know God is still at work in your life, maybe just ask yourself if you are taking the right action.

Because waiting on God isn't like waiting for rain in a drought, waiting on God is action-based confidence of grace yet to come! (Paul David Tripp)