As a
homeschooling mom, I work with all the children very closely, and I
know exactly what areas need work. Kaiah is doing quite well, but she certainly isn't ready for 4th grade yet. Calmly I replied, "Yes, you're still in 3rd grade baby. You have some things you need to learn and once you complete those lessons, then you get to move on to a higher grade in the Fall." I extended my arms and hugged her. "All in good time," I said. I think that was enough to satisfy her. After that, she smiled and replied, "OK Mom," in her high pitched happy voice and bopped on out of the room.
Before I shrugged the brief conversation off as one of those "kids say the darndest things moments," I thought about it a little while longer. That's when it dawned on me that we all feel that way from time to time. I'm sure if you examine your life and look back over the seasons you've come through, there have been moments when you've felt ready to move forward; but God knew it wasn't time yet.
There were lessons you yet needed to learn.
All too often, we are guilty of despising the training process. We like to jump from A to Z with very little training and waiting. We don't like to "embrace the waiting place" God has us in at that time.
Although He knows we get antsy and extremely impatient with His timetable, He loves us too much to advance us before we're ready.
You know, as an adult, it's quite easy to explain to my 8-year-old why she must wait before being elevated to a new grade. But what about me and you? When it comes to us, we can find it quite difficult to apply those same lessons, can't we?
Nevertheless, it's necessary to remind ourselves of how it works in the Kingdom. We first go through training. Then, we are tested on what we learned. Once we pass the test, we move on to a higher level. Like it or not, there's no way to circumvent this process... not if we want to remain in God's will, that is.
Again, none of us is exempt.
That's why the enemy works so hard to keep us frustrated, so that we'll continue to resist God's method of preparing us to move forward in our lives. Listen, I know it's not always easy to be patient.
It may not be easy, but it is worth it.
Today, I encourage you to embrace the waiting place you presently occupy. Trust God's sovereignty and know that, when you're ready, He'll take you higher. In the meantime, pay close attention to the lessons you're being taught, so when the right time comes, you'll be ready to advance to the place God has predestined for you.
I believe you have a bright future ahead of you, but you can't grow weary where you are. As the scripture reminds us all, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs