Losing Equals Winning or Patience (Devotional)

Hey There Brothers and Sisters,

It’s truly been a long time since we’ve had a little time together like this. I think we should rectify this right now. I’ve been wanting some personal time with you, but have been so busy, but I hope you’ll forgive me and take a few moments now for my sake.

I was wondering, do you ever get frustrated that it seems like you’re in the wrong place, but at the same time in the right place?!? Crazy I know. This week I found myself in a difficult position. It seems like I always have to miss these meetings. Meetings of truly great speakers, hook ups with good friends, or times of prayer and worship with my church. Times that are really important. Important to me, our leadership, and our church. We had a speaker this weekend at our conference whom God sent directly to us, I believe, to catapult us into our next place our next level of power as a leadership team and church. He took time Monday night to speak directly to our leadership team and pray with them. Where was I? Not there, at work. So many people have told me to quite my job because it seems to always “interfere” with these types of things. The thing is, every time I’ve attempted to quite my job in the past, He just draws me close to him and whispers, not yet. And it’s not just me, but the same thing with my wife (we work together). And family, we’ve gone through some really tough times in the last two years or so. Nothing that I would have ever wanted my family to go through. More than anyone in my family or church probably even realizes. But God is faithful, He is always faithful.

Maybe some of you feel that way, like you are in the wrong place. Like you got the short end of the stick. Like somehow you are being cheated out of something greater than what you have. Rest assured that God knows exactly what He’s doing with you. Don’t try to move your place prematurely, don’t try to skip in line, don’t try to negotiate your way out of it. Worst is, you might just get it to find out that you should’ve waited, or maybe even worse yet, that it’s not what you thought it would be in the end.

Take stock in this verse. It may seem like an “old”, “worn out”, and “over used” verse, but it provides great insight to where we are to be; in the center of Gods’ will.

Proverbs 3:5-6

New American Standard (NASB)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Certainly, when we follow we rest in His words for us, and not in the situation, not the thought of future gain, but in the current love, grace, and mercy being poured out as we speak. Let me leave you with this last verse. God knows what you want as well as what you need. His timing is impeccable and ours is… not so much.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

New International Version (NIV)