Blog

Have you ever noticed how hard a concept time is for us as humans? The Bible has ample scriptures advising us to wait on the Lord. I have to assume this is because God knows just how bad we struggle with this concept. Time isn’t the same for God. We can’t understand exactly what that means just yet, but there is biblical support for this.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9

Are you waiting on a dream to come to fruition? I know I have been. And it doesn’t seem possible for that to happen at this stage in my life. It’s heart-wrenching. It hurts. Whether it’s trying to conceive, being a home-owner, getting a job you don’t despise, or being in a fulfilling relationship; it hurts when we have to wait for things we want so badly. So how do we get through it? How do we keep from getting angry with God for not allowing us to have what we want? How do we keep a close relationship with him while we wait?

The answer is one I will give for most challenges: Scripture and prayer. There are so many passages regarding waiting that I will leave you with at the end of this post. Scripture is so important no matter what you are going through. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” Hebrews 4:12.

God’s word is our biggest asset as believers. Equally important; prayer is how we keep our relationship with God. Without that connection, His word won’t reach our hearts as it was meant to. If you are feeling hopeless, the best place in my opinion to turn is the Psalms. The Psalms are filled with people crying out to God for Him to help them through whatever it is they are struggling with. Feel free to use this as inspiration in those hopeless moments to cry out to Him. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t feel guilty for feeling disappointed in your waiting. God already knows what you’re feeling anyway, so there’s no point in denying it.

…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8

Just know, friend, that I am right here waiting with you. I’ve got big dreams. Big dreams that just can’t happen yet. But I am trusting in God’s timing. It’s hard, and I have moments where I want to scream and cry and lose my mind. The key is to turn to God in those moments. Find a verse to meditate on, find a Psalm to pray when you feel down. I don’t always succeed at this. Sometimes I let myself have a good cry. It’s important to pick yourself up and dust yourself off and get back to living life, though. Notice I didn’t say easy, but important. You can do this. We can do all things. But only with Christ.

Love to you, Christian, as you wait on the Lord. He sees you. And He has more planned for you than you could possibly know.

Stephanie Lynn

Scripture For the Wait:

• Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
• Matthew 7:7-9 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 
• Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
• Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
• Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
• Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
• Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
• 2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
• Acts 1:7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”
• Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law. (emphasis added)
• Lamentations 3:25-26 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
• Habakkuk 2:3 …If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Is there one sin you’ve committed that you can’t seem to forget? A mistake that haunts you? Something you just can’t seem to put behind you, no matter how you try?

Have I got good news for you! God does not remember that sin. You might say, God can’t forget anything – He is perfect! While that is true; He is perfect, He has told us through His Word that He does, in fact, forget our sins. Let’s take a look at the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 8:12 “…For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

This portion of Hebrews (verses 8-12) is God speaking of the new covenant He is making with the houses of Israel and Judah. Further down in verse 13, the unspecified author elaborates on this new covenant.

Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

This is more proof that we are no longer held to the old law, but under a new covenant with God through Jesus Christ. But that’s a topic for another day.

Back to this forgetting business. There are so many sins I have held on to over the years. Things that I haven’t even considered that God could forgive me for because I simply couldn’t forgive myself. I have asked for forgiveness, but not wholeheartedly as I wasn’t willing to accept that forgiveness. How could I deserve it? If anyone knew how awful I had been, how many people I had hurt, they would agree. And it’s true. I don’t deserve it. But He gives it anyway. He remembers our sins no more.

I remember listening to a pastor, and forgive me for not remembering who it was or where, but he shared a great story. I’m not sure how valid it is, but it definitely puts things in perspective. He said there was a woman in another church who had said Jesus was talking to her in her dreams. She had told her pastor about this. He was skeptical and asked her if she would ask Him what sin he struggled with as a teenager. Then he would know if what she was saying was true.

She came back to the church the next Sunday. He asked her if she had asked Jesus the question he gave her. She said she did. She asked Jesus which sin her pastor struggled with as a teen. Jesus’ response was, “I don’t remember”. I like to think of this as proof that none of us are immune to putting-my-foot-in-my-mouth-itis! Again, whether or not this is true, I don’t know. But the sentiment is exactly true. If God says He forgets, He most certainly does. It’s no longer part of us or held against us.

Mark 3:28 Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man…

If you’ve honestly repented and asked God for forgiveness of your past sins, you do have forgiveness, friend. Sometimes that’s a hard pill to swallow because we don’t feel as though we deserve it. Let me assure you, Jesus knows you are worth it. He makes no mistakes and He died for your sins, for my sins.

Let’s not waste this gift. Let’s not hold on to the past. Trust me, I need this reminder just as much as you do. I’ve been held back long enough by holding on to guilt. Let’s pray an earnest prayer today to let go of the past and start living today for what it is; a fresh start, a new beginning.

Thank you, Lord for this day. Thank you for saving my soul. May my actions today be guided by your love and forgiveness. May I walk forward, letting go of yesterday so that you can do your work in me today. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

God bless you, friend! I pray this message hits your heart and convicts you to move forward today. Thanks for reading.

Much Love in Christ,

Stephanie Lynn

“As to our present pain and grief, God saw not these, but He saw the future joy and usefulness that will come of them.” – Charles Spurgeon

Have you ever been at a point in your life where everything seems so uncertain? When you can’t see how anything in your life could possibly work out with the mess it is? I know, for me, in these moments, I tend to start panicking. I just want this pain/suffering/uncertainty over with, yet I see no way out.

Now, do me a favor and think about one of the hardest things you’ve lived through. Sounds like fun, right?! Just humor me. I have a point, I promise. Think back to that time and how it felt as though it would never end. I know it’s painful, and it is for me also. I do think it’s important to expose ourselves to a glimpse of the pain so that we can focus on the good part.

We survived those challenges. We made it through, though sometimes only by the skin of our teeth. But in those moments, the pain is so real and intense that we can’t bring ourselves to believe it will end.

That’s just it, friend! WE don’t know. WE don’t know how we will get by. WE don’t know if it will ever end. HE knows. HE knows exactly what we are living with and He will see us through. Just like He’s done before.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

If you shop for any Christian merchandise or follow any Christian social media accounts, chances are you see this verse all over the place. But instead of sharing a pretty picture with pretty words, let’s dig a bit deeper. Welfare can also be translated here as peace. And this is logical, since scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:15, God has called us to peace. That peace isn’t only the environment around us, but within ourselves as well.

He has plans of peace for us. If you find yourself in a markedly conflicted time, find rest in the fact that He does have plans of peace for you. HE knows what He has in store for us. You can bet your life on that one. Let’s look further, down to verse 12.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

I interpret this to mean He does have plans for us, but we have to do our part to make them a reality. We have to go to our Father. When we do, He promises to listen. As our perfect Father, His heart breaks with ours and His sympathy is nothing any human could match. Now let’s look at verse 13.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

In order for His plans for us to be executed, we have to seek Him genuinely. We can’t throw up empty prayers. It has to come from the heart.

In these moments where I’m utterly lost, even with as much time as I spend in scripture, I have to remind myself of what I should do. I have to go in my room, (see Matthew 6:6), make sure I won’t be interrupted and get down on my knees. I allow myself to really feel the pain that’s haunting me so that my prayer comes from a place that is real, genuine, and, quite honestly, desperate. We are desperate for Him, are we not? We will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart.

That place of vulnerability, that’s what God wants us to share with Him. He wants us to be real with Him. That allows Him to be real with us. I have to confess, prayer isn’t always my first resort. We live in a world run by Satan. He tries to keep us so busy, so distracted, so wrapped up in the suffering, we don’t turn to God. But that’s exactly what our first step should be.

He knows.

Our minds are so limited while we are here, physically separated from Him. We can’t know what He has in store for us. But, if we seek Him, call upon Him and be real with Him; He will put His plans into fruition. Don’t lose sight of that. Don’t lose hope. Don’t ever lose hope.

He loves us more than we can comprehend. Rest in that love and seek His peace. It is my prayer that God shows you your path and that you always seek Him first. Thanks for reading and God bless!

Stephanie Lynn