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Tuesday, February 02, 2010When God Delays
Have you ever experienced planting garlic in a farm before? I did when I was 14 years old in a whole one hectare of land.
The most difficult part of my experience was between the time we planted the cloves and the time of harvest.
Here are some of the things I felt during that wait time:
1) I grew impatient that I prematurely uprooted some of the bulbs.
2) I got worried because I may have planted wrong seeds or planted them the wrong way.
3) I got scared when I found out that there was a snake in the area.
4) I became aggressive when I found the snake and nearly slaughtered it.
5) I became furious because some worms try to eat some of my bulbs.
6) I was sad because some of them withered and died.
7) I was happy because it was harvest time.
Here are some the lessons I learned based on the feelings I had during the process of growing.
1) I grew impatient - I have to understand that there is a gap between planting and harvesting. It is nature's way. It takes time to wait through the growing season for the garlic to mature, sprout and develop its bulb. I would look ridiculous if the day after I planted my garlic and the next day I go out in the field stomping and whining, "Why don't I have garlic? I planted tons of seed! Where is my garlic?"
It sounds silly but this is often how we behave. In our life, we have to wait for our seed to grow and mature too. We must understand that we have to be patient and tend our crops diligently in order to see the harvest.
2) I got worried of planting the wrong seeds - whatever you sow, you reap. If I planted garlic, there is no way that I'm going to get rice from my garlic plants. If I planted the wrong seeds, then I get the wrong produce.
No amount of positive thinking is going to change the wrong seed I planted to turn into garlic and no amount of worries can fix my problem. The solution is not worrying. I took action. I fixed the problem by uprooting the wrong seeds and replacing them with the right one.
3) I got scared of the snake and I became aggressive – although it was just a small one, a snake is a snake. I was scared to enter the field knowing that there was a snake in it. But that did not stop me. I jumped into the field and started to hunt it down.
In our life, we will encounter snakes. What are these snakes?
In our life, we will encounter snakes. What are these snakes?
These are the four d's - doubt, deception, discouragement and we get distracted by the things that scare us.
During this time of waiting the "enemy" will come to try to scare you and prevent you from entering your "destiny." We must always remember this - the Lord allows these fears to come against you in order to train you and mature you.
In my case, that was the day I was able to overcome my fears with these creatures. I became aggressive and persevered that I am going to drive the snake away and made sure it never comes back. Instead of being a prey, I became the hunter. I did not give up. I stayed focused and fearless determined to drive it away as far as I can.
By the way, I tried to kill the snake but my aim was really bad as my hands were shaking while running and throwing rocks at it. Anyways...
4) I became furious – imagine this situation, you are working as hard as you can and suddenly someone else steals your idea and harvest your reward. You plant the seed; they eat your crops, just like the worms that were eating my bulbs.
My advice, don't get distracted with these things. People will come and steal your ideas and they will take credit for it. Unfortunately, this is very common. I too have my own personal experience.
Sometimes the toughest part about this problem is to stand on the "promise" and believe that it will come to pass, no matter what the circumstances tell us. It's a testing of refining your faith. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Be still because God is in your side. If someone took advantage of you, do not be furious and do not take revenge. As the scripture says, "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,' says the Lord." (Romans 12:19)
5) I was sad because some of them withered and died - sometimes our dreams, visions and projects have to "die" within this "waiting" or "delay" period so that the Lord Himself brings them back to life with great power and glory to His name.
Several times in my life, especially when I started using drugs, it may seem as if God has forgotten about me. I looked like anything but blessed by God. But waiting was worth it; He came through.
I finally come to realize that during these delay period, God was with me all the time.
Even in the scriptures, men must wait to receive.
Abram and Sarah waited for 25 years to get the promised child.
God promised Noah a flood when he was 500 years old. The flood came 100 years later. (Genesis 7:6).
Joseph had to wait a considerable time before he became the prime minister of Egypt. He had his dream around age seventeen. He was exalted at the age of thirty. (Genesis 37:2 & 41:46).
So, if you have been praying for something for the last five years, don't worry, like Joseph, you only have eight more years to wait.
Kidding aside, some promises come like an explosion - BOOM, there it is. But 90 percent of the time, you have to wait and work to receive it.
This is no different like planting and harvesting, investing and maturing, asking in prayer and receiving.
Whatever happens to you can never happen if God hadn't permitted it. Don't forget that He loves you dearly. He promised to cause all things to work together for your good. (Romans 8:28).
Waiting is a part of the divine design of things. Waiting is no accident, it is purposed.
Joseph, Abraham and Noah's situation were, humanly speaking, hopeless and nearly impossible. Imagine this, Joseph, thrown in a pit, imprisoned several times? Look at Noah - building an ark at His old age, on top of a mountain? Abraham and Sarah, I mean, logically speaking, who would expect someone to give birth at age 100. Even Sarah herself laughed about this idea. (Genesis 18:12)
By the way, did you know what the messenger of God told Sarah when he heard her laughing at his words?
"Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 18:14)
Here is one thing common for all three, they all focused on what God can do, not on what they cannot do. It takes believing especially through a delay to see the glory of God.
Remember, during this time of delay, the Lord is teaching us something. He is preparing us for the greatest miracle of our lives. His ways are different from ours.
This is what happened to Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. (You can read the whole story in the Gospel of John 11:1-46)
Jesus knew Lazarus was dying. He knew! So, why did Jesus intentionally delayed his trip for two days?
I mean, if Jesus really cares for them, if He is really a friend, if He really loves them, why did He allow this family to go underwater before he rescues them? If you are wondering how Jesus loved this family, this is the only incident in the bible where Jesus actually wept for a person. But why did He come only after Lazarus has been buried for four days? It's too late!
When Martha and Mary met Jesus, they told him the same words – "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." (verses 21 & 32)
Both sisters had high hopes that if Jesus came on time to save their brother, Lazarus would still be living. What the sisters do not understand is that Jesus was there all the time. He knew what was going to happen, He knew how it's going to happen and He knew how the story will end.
Let me go back to the earlier verse, "But when Jesus heard this, He said, 'This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.'" (verse 4)
He knew Lazarus was already dead! (verse 14)
He allowed Lazarus to die for their sake. He allowed this to happen for the Glory of God! He allowed this to happen so the people can experience one of the greatest miracles he performed.
My friend, if your dream has died and you are in an impossible situation, do you believe God can raise that dream for you?
6) I was happy because it was harvest time – this was the best part of waiting. I knew my garlic was ready. I can now see the fruits of my labour. But one week before the time of harvest, the fact is, I wanted to pull them out to make profit out of it as soon as I can.
It's interesting to see that when the end draws near, when victory is around the corner, the enemy comes to attack you big time!
The enemy will do everything to attack and try to temp you out of God's plan for your life just before the breakthrough. A lot of people give up at this point. Many of us question God's purpose in our lives. Many are tempted to take the short cut. Wrong move!
We will not be quitters who lose out. Never! We'll stay with it and survive trusting all the way.
What you need to quit though is quit looking at yourself as a victim and start looking at yourself as a champion. "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
No matter what we go through, He will see us through. No matter what we are going through, we should not fear because He is with us and He knows our situation. We will not be drowned even if we are already underwater with our problems and worries. Believe that our Lord is in control and He always provides a way out, even when it seems there is no way.
Humble yourself before him so he can exalt you.
By the way, just because you know that God has something great in store for you doen't mean that you are not going to do anything. As I wrote earlier, we have to be patient and tend our crops diligently in order to see the harvest.
Finally, be assured that God always makes it worth the wait. Just like eating, if you want instant gratification, you can go to any fast food or drive through McDonald's and buy a "Happy Meal." But if you want a gourmet meal, you know you will have to wait a while. Great meals don't happen quickly. A good chef uses the oven or slowly cooks the food to get the best out of it. Just like God's plans for His people. He delays our "cooking" process to bring out the very best in us.
When God tells you to wait, be assured that He is preparing for you the greatest miracle in your life.
Isn't that worth waiting?
Isn't that worth waiting?
God is the greatest!
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