The first time I asked my potential father-in law if I could marry his daughter he said no.
The second time I asked him, he also said no.
I was disappointed to say the least, but looking back on it now, I realize he wasn't trying to say no, he was trying to say "wait." He knew his daughter was special and wanted me to take the time to see that too. He knew I was just some fresh mouthed kid with a really small understanding of love and marriage and life. He wanted me to grow up a little, to learn how to love his daughter not leap into loving his daughter.
But I didn't want to wait.
So we got married on my time frame and in some ways, going fast ended up really slowing us down. By speeding into marriage, we had to figure out some things in the first few years that other people figure out before they get married. We had to work through issues that we could have discussed prior to marriage. We had to, in some ways, pay the consequences of rushing.
I bring this up because in chapter 29, Jacob worked for 14 years to marry Rachel. Wow, I don't think I waited 14 days to propose to my wife after my father-in law said wait. Other than breathe, there are not many things I have done for 14 years straight. That is such a long time.
The marriage rush is over. My current wait or run or what do you want me to do God issue is publishing a book. I want it to happen right this second but maybe God is protecting me from it like my father-in law tried to protect me from the cost of rushing at marriage. Success can be one of the most dangerous poisons of all. Maybe God's hand is staying the cup even as I struggle to bring it to my lips.
My prayer today is that we'd all wait. In the right ways for the right reasons. And that when it is time to run, we will be ready.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
13 comments:
Thanks, Jon. I've been really struggling with patience in a few areas of my life, so this hit home.
Also a random comment - there was a middle aged couple in front of us at church yesterday and they were all over each other having "arm sex" as my husband described it. I kept giggling because all I could think about was the lady that sits near you giving neck rubs.
Ah, "waiting on the Lord"
really tough sometimes...
Yeah, waiting is not easy.
So true! I was just reading that passage today actually, of all 'coincidences'.
However, Jacob actually got Rachel after 7 years and a week I think... There was still work to be done afterwards but you don't always have to be totally sorted out to get what God has for you; else, well, you'd never get anything would you?!
Lol on the arm sex comment. They obviously could not wait.
Excellent post!
I'm in full agreement of your post Jon. God just wants us to wait for His pre-determined moment.
I also happened to have written on this in my blog The Light is Shining Upon Us (http://terangbagijalanku.blogspot.com/2008/06/singing-by-lyrics.html ) .
Wow0 my father said no to my husband 2x as well. Then finally, I guess he got tired of being asked? But it was for the same reasons.
I see what you mean, though - we're still learning a lot that we could've learned before. I wish we could buy patience, like a program for your computer. How much easier would THAT make life? Seriously!!
Thanks Jon.
Waiting (for any number of things) has been one of my biggest struggles my entire adult life. The world around us does not promote waiting for anything... and I have only recently started to accept that things WILL NOT happen on my time (begrudgingly). When I got married, I had so many expectations of my husband and our life and where we would be when we are 30 - and none of those things have happened yet! (I'm 32)
But what has come along with that is a new perspective on what my time of waiting should consist of...reflecting HIM to other in my everyday life. Sounds like a simple Sunday School answer - but I wonder how many other are like me in taking so long to see things this way - like the job I go to everyday IS my mission. I work for a non-profit. I always knew I was doing good...but until recently did not really see it as the purpose God has for me RIGHT NOW. Maybe something really important will come out of the little things I do today, that would not happen if all of my "dreams" came true.
I think this is the difference between knowing something, and truly believing it. I "knew" that God had a specific purpose for me, but had to realize that it wasn't necessarily the same as what I "imagined" that purpose would be. And I am beginning to be okay with that.
Thanks Jon.
Waiting (for any number of things) has been one of my biggest struggles my entire adult life. The world around us does not promote waiting for anything... and I have only recently started to accept that things WILL NOT happen on my time (begrudgingly). When I got married, I had so many expectations of my husband and our life and where we would be when we are 30 - and none of those things have happened yet! (I'm 32)
But what has come along with that is a new perspective on what my time of waiting should consist of...reflecting HIM to other in my everyday life. Sounds like a simple Sunday School answer - but I wonder how many other are like me in taking so long to see things this way - like the job I go to everyday IS my mission. I work for a non-profit. I always knew I was doing good...but until recently did not really see it as the purpose God has for me RIGHT NOW. Maybe something really important will come out of the little things I do today, that would not happen if all of my "dreams" came true.
I think this is the difference between knowing something, and truly believing it. I "knew" that God had a specific purpose for me, but had to realize that it wasn't necessarily the same as what I "imagined" that purpose would be. And I am beginning to be okay with that.
No doubt, God often saves us from ourselves in the process of "wait".
thank you, thank you.
i'm anxious about this whole timing thing, wondering if i've missed the boat (and there's God floating away in said boat, His hands up in a gesture of dismissal & His head cocked to one side as if to say: sorry, kirsten!! ), if somehow God forgot about something He started with me, or if maybe He decided without telling me that He figured i just wasn't up to it.
and here i am, ready to pounce, anxiously asking Him like a little kid, are we there yet, are we there yet?!!?
there's something about the whole fullness-of-time thing, isn't there? i've got to trust that He sees the whole scope of this & i cannot.
thanks again.
Thank you very much. Reading your message has helped me to keep waiting on God. God knows when the timing is right and when we need what we pray for. God sees it all, knows it all.
I know that waiting is very hard. I have been waiting for God to restore my marriage after being married for 27 years and now divorced after 2 years. However, I will not give up, give in, or give out. I know God has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and I believe that they are to prosper us. I will wait on the LORD.
ah waiting. seemingly one of the hardest things to do for some reason.
It can't help that we live in a society of now, and faster, faster, faster!
Waiting is something the Bible talks a lot about. And is something that is definitely worth doing.
on a side note, if you pray for patience... be prepared to go through a lot to get it.
Post a Comment