Delayed Promises

Well I would have posted rather earlier this week than I have, if it were not for having a nasty virus for just over a week now.

Health wise I had been doing great, and as a result I had been very busy. Perhaps that is why. But I realise now that I cannot have an answer for everything and sometimes I just have to trust the Lord. This is one of those times. He hasn't yet told me why I have been unwell (and at times bed bound) this past week, but I know enough now to know I need to keep a positive attitude, not use it as an excuse to moan and snap at everyone, and to quietly endure whilst trusting Him. Not easy for me, but hey, I'm giving it a go! And I have been able to do some stuff this week (perhaps a little too much too quickly as I got a bit better then worse again), and I am able to be sat here at the PC now writing this at long last!

What I really wanted to share with you is something that is very close to my heart. It's about waiting, and being a late bloomer.

There is a scripture God has brought to mind this week:

Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. Habakkuk 2: 2-3

Ever since I can remember God has given me certain promises over my life. I was not brought up in a Christian home, but at 15 he spoke to me in a dream very clearly about my life, and He has continued to so ever since. The promises are awesome, they are for me, my family and beyond. And trust me, I have done everything I could to bring them about myself. But God has always said no, not yet. The promises have literally 'tarried'.

tar·ry

¹ [tar-ee] verb (used without object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.

1.to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn: He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.

2.to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.

3.to wait.

4.Archaic. to wait for.

5.a stay; sojourn.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English taryen  to delay, tary  a delay

Now I could argue that they are delayed, or even overdue. But I know in my heart I'd be wrong. God's timing is perfect, and I can see now, with a little more age and wisdom, that if I had received the promises years ago, I would have squandered them and been spoilt by the blessings they brought with them, and in all likelihood become proud and turned my back on God.

Lucifer, the Devil, became proud and turned his back on God, and we all know how that one turned out. So in essence, in the waiting, God has refined me and, I hope, made me more capable of handling the blessings and the promises, when they come.

But several things have happened lately that have encouraged me.

First, I felt God release me to talk to my Pastor about training to preach. I was able to meet him this week and start that process. So God trusts me to not be quite so hidden as I have been, not such a wall flower.

Second, the Lord spoke to a friend at housegroup (a small group gathering of people from our church during the week). The Lord took him to Victoria Falls and showed him the rainbow in the waterfall. The Lord told him that He was not a promise breaker, but a keeper of promises. That He was faithful and He would not break his promises to us, He remembers them and will fulfil them. We can trust Him.

On the way to the meeting I had seen my first ever triple rainbow! Here is a photo of a beautiful double rainbow we had over our house last weekend:

This doesn't show the double, but is still beautiful and a reminder of God's promises

It's not that clear but look to the left of the main rainbow to see the double

 The third thing that happened was I found a load of spring bulbs in my garage that should have been planted in the Autumn but I wasn't well enough. So I planted them in the spring, when they should have been flowering. They lay dormant for over a month, and are well past their season now, but suddenly this last week this happened:

Late bloomers!

Daffodils in nearly June, in really hot weather - who ever heard of it?! But I guess the promise of life held within those seemingly dead bulbs over-rode the surety of death in the time of year and the conditions.

I feel God encourage us and say, even though things seem dormant and dreams seem dead, even though the promises seem to tarry, to delay and be well overdue, just hold on - for He is the great Promise Keeper, He is Faithful and we can trust Him. The promises will come to pass. We must simply have faith (trust Him) and patiently endure our current circumstances, and we will receive and inherit those promises He's made to us, both through His word and to us individually (Hebrews 6: 12).

It is hard. It is so hard. Laying in bed feeling pretty awful this week, seeing yet another week with little done, except get through it, pass by is excruciating. My youngest has her ice skating birthday party tomorrow morning. I feel weak and unwell physically and rather apprehensive about it. Yet I know I can choose to trust the Lord to be able to spend 90 minutes ice skating (I am rubbish at it!) and looking after 7 girls, and feel none the worse for it. That is a small promise, but I am trusting Him (and trying to exercise patience - not a strong point, but it has been decades!) that the larger ones will come to pass.

So for all the 'late bloomers' like me out there, and for anyone else reading this, be blessed : )

NB: A recommended watch on Youtube is Joyce Meyer: The Silent Years. It really helped and encouraged me : )