LIVING THROUGH THE “NOT YET”

LIVING THROUGH THE “NOT YET”
Thursday, November 12, 2020 by Leona Choy

A Fresh Slice of Daily Bread

We anticipated that autumn would bring welcome releases from what has turned out to be “under house arrest” condition for most of our populations. It's hard to accept that we are still in a “not yet” season.

That doesn't mean that God is not answering our prayers. I fret while I'm in the hall waiting for doors to open into rooms of His favor. God allows me at times to linger in this transition gap of “not yet” even if it stretches out for a prolonged time. To our Eternal God it is only a moment.

Sometimes I feel as if I'm waiting for God to act and He seems to be doing nothing. I want my answer yesterday. I'm stuck in the cement of my time zone. I want to hurry, although God's divine four letter word seems to be “wait.”

I might suspect that Satan is trying to hinder me; sometimes he is, but not always. He can't stop what God has ordained for my life and yours. He has His collective eye on the whole world at the same time as working intimately in the lives of each of us. Awesome.

We may be in this sheltered-in-place “lock-down” for far longer than we thought possible. I've convinced myself and encouraged others that God really is active in my now, although I don't observe it with my senses. It may not be His “due season” yet, nor His “fullness of time.” I may complain that it is painful and difficult to hang suspended in the “not yet.” Nevertheless, how I respond and handle myself during that period is critical.

Perhaps I am not ready for His blessing yet. God might need to work on me to prepare me to receive what He has in store for me. God may be setting up the circumstances that have to be in place before the time is ripe to bring me into the season of His favor. I can't shorten the “not yet” period, but I can lengthen it by lack of trust in Him and being rebellious in my waiting period. It will only last as long as He has planned.

I need to be careful not to run ahead during my “not yet” time and do my own thing instead of waiting for God to act. Biblical examples are many, and we are shown the consequences and catastrophes of forging ahead without His certain orders. Think of Abraham barging ahead and fathering Ishmael without waiting for Sarah to conceive the promised Isaac.

Those of us in our later calendar years who are called “vulnerables” are climbing toward the pinnacle of our summit of life. We tend to be especially impatient. We are aware that our earth-time is short and there is no time to waste. We are inclined to be restless and impulsively take action without waiting for God because He appears to be dragging His feet. Do we forget that He has the eternal perspective and sees the due time already? There can be no “not yet” with Him.

The Lord wants me to wrap up my faith and trust in Him with expectation and watch for His moving hand, expect the unexpected, and the “exceeding above what we can ask or think.” My “not yet” time is also my examination time. I must examine myself to be sure I'm obedient to all that He has already told me to do. Am I up-to-date in my relationship with Him? I can't afford to simply mark time. I must restfully accept this present season of circumstances as God's best gift planned for my good and for His glory.

It is pointless to spend my “not yet” time fretting, sweating, stewing, biting my nails, running ahead, or wearing a spot on the carpet with impatient pacing.

Dr. Andrew Murray, a prolific author in a past century of what are called deeper spiritual life teachings on the interior life, wrote: “In times of uncertainty, doubt, or in a waiting period, say: 'I am here by God's appointment, in His keeping, under His training, and for His time.'” Bottom line: Keep trusting God and abiding in His peace!

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Comments

Mike From At 11/14/2020 10:17:12 AM

Dear Leona, I always appreciate reading your blog posts. Helping us and encouraging us in these uncertain times. God bless you.

Reply by: Leona Choy

We all need encouragement -- it is a two-way street. I'm so thankful for your job in these crazy days when so many people are out of work with no light at the end of the tunnel. God bless you too,my friend Mike

Carole McKinney From Maple Valley, Wa At 11/13/2020 11:01:03 AM

A great reminder to me that it is God's timing and not mine! I will try to remember this when I get a bit rebellious and want to run ahead. I don't want to miss out on any of His blessings!

Reply by: Leona Choy

Carole, God always has good reasons for His "apparent" delays. You've heard it said that "God's delays are not denials." Not periods, more like commas,colons or semi-colons, sometimes even dashes that end with an exclamation mark that we would have missed if we ran ahead and didn't heed the WAIT signal.

Dottie From Dan At 11/13/2020 5:42:39 AM

Rest in his hand and wait. He is not through with me or you. I've been meaning to tell you that I was watching something on YouTube a few days ago in bed. I lie down with my ear next to the sound so I can hear it.I fell asleep and woke up in bed with you and Marcus Grodi!!! What a pleasure! Thi

Reply by: Leona Choy

Dot-Sal, it is not good for your brain to have the sound close to your ear or we will lost what hearing we have left! Did you mean the interview back in 2007? Strange coincidence in view of the letter I just shared with my friends including you. Your message got truncated, you ran out of space....

Frances M. Johnson From Denver, colorado At 11/13/2020 4:48:08 AM

Dear Leona, You never run out of fresh ideas. God has so blessed you with new ways to bring hope and encouragement to your readers, and you, in turn, respond to ahistorical call to share these ideas. Go d bless you and your loved ones. FMJ

Reply by: Leona Choy

Dear Frances, I am given what is called the "Barnabas gift" of encouragement to others. In turn we all encourage each other to stand fast in God's Truth an live our lives infused with His wisdom. Thank you for YOUR encouragement and prayers which I gladly receive.

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