I remember when I was a younger, I had such big plans and dreams for myself, and they were very specific as it related to my love life. I PLANNED to meet my husband in high school or my freshmen year of college at the latest and we would get married right after I graduated from college around the age of 22. We would start having children at 24 and I would have my last child no later than the age of 30. Within all of this I planned to become a Certified Nurse Midwife, open my own birthing center, write and record music with my husband of course, and travel the world. This plan was PERFECT! (Insert Sarcasm)
Most of you who have followed me for any length of time know that this is not what happened for me. I had my first child at 18, got married at 27, had my second child at 28, and by the looks of it I will be into my 30's by the time I am done having children. When I graduated from college, right after breaking things off with my college boyfriend, I had so many questions and doubts about my life. Who else is going to love me and my daughter? How am I going to achieve my career goals without help from a significant other? How do I continue to bounce back from the shame of having my daughter out of "wedlock" if I don't get married?
I was putting so much pressure on myself to PERFORM, but for who? It was certainly not for me or for God, it was for others. To prove that I was good, that I was smart, and that the potential they all saw was real. When God began to open my eyes and my heart to the truth of who He was and began to show me glimpses of His plans for me, I stopped. I stopped competing with the old me, I stopped competing with who others thought I should be, and I stopped competing with who I thought they wanted me to be.
I began to pray for God to show me the plans that He created for me because Jeremiah 29:11 told me that He knew the thoughts and the plans that He had for me and that they were prosperous ones. That sounded much better than the thoughts and plans that I had made and seen fail. I was led to this unconventional scripture about waiting to hear those plans.
"I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the tower; and I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, and what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved." Habakukk 2:1
How long are we really waiting to hear the full plans that God has for us? I know for me, I have gotten a glimpse of a vision/plan from God and I took off with it. Making assumptions and creating holes for myself along the way. When someone is stationed somewhere they are not allowed to leave on their own accord, they must be released. Ask yourself this question, Did I move too soon before hearing God's complete plan and did I receive His release to move forward?
Now lets move on to a scripture that we hear so often....
"....Write the vision and engrave it plainly on [clay] tablets so that the one who reads it will run. For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time, it hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it." Habakkuk 2:2-3 AMP.
I like this translation because while it discusses the progression of the plan/vision moving, it shows us WAITING. The vision is hurrying toward the goal of completion and may seem delayed at times but, we are to be positioned in the waiting room for the full manifestation of it.
Why am I bringing this up? Because, the greatest sign of a spiritually mature Christian is patience and wisdom that tells you when to move and speak. Being in the waiting room doesn't mean that you're idle. If the Lord has shown you glimpse of His plan it then becomes your duty to write it down and STUDY. How can one relay a message that they cannot remember and properly communicate. Study that business you know he's going to have you manage. Study music producers until the time comes that you own your own studio. Study how to be a great parent until you are given the child that you have been praying for. Are you following me?
We will not be successful in the next phases of our life if we cannot learn to be patient and studious while we wait. Don't allow the desires of your flesh to cause you to have to retrace your steps to pick up the pieces of the plans of God that were revealed to you long ago. Even if this blog has created conviction concerning getting off track and rushing through life for insignificant goals, all you have to do is repent and make the necessary changes.
Slow down....be patient.....wait with expectation for the vision to reach you. You will be so surprised at how quickly things begin to move and unfold when you are moving in the divine instructions and timing of God. So whose plans are you going to pursue?