The sting of comparison hurts, doesn’t it? Oh, how many times I have written or spoken about the fact that comparison steals our joy.
Yet, I did it again. I took my eyes off God and His promises and looked with desire at what God is doing in and through others, wishing that was me. I’m not proud of it. In fact, it brings a bit of shame and embarrassment. My heart’s desire is to be content with what God is doing in, through, with, and for me.
“But Lord, you promised…” I pleaded as I recalled words spoken over me and to me years ago. “I just don’t understand what’s taking so long. Did I hear you incorrectly?”
In recent months, God has led my family and I through some of the most difficult decisions we’ve ever had to make. It required complete surrender of our will, and obedience with faith to do what we know He has asked. It has required exercising our faith and trust muscles, even when we do not see the next step.
It has been a long season of waiting. Waiting on God. Waiting to determine our next steps. Waiting to see promises fulfilled. Waiting to be used by Him. And yet, I’ve watched God allow others to serve Him in ways that I’ve always desired to serve. I’ve watched as others have experienced a touch of God that I wanted for myself. It’s been a season of searching and questioning.
Not too long ago, a friend shared a video with me (that I can no longer find to give the worthy attribution) about a man who had placed an order for a meal at a restaurant. After some time had passed, he noticed that others who had been seated or ordered their meal after him were getting served sooner. He became frustrated and upset. When he expressed his discontent and questioned the delay, it was shared that he had to wait longer than the other patrons because his order was special and took longer to prepare.
Friend, I don’t know what you are waiting for. I don’t know what promises God has spoken over you that have yet to come to fruition. But can I share a few pieces of wisdom gleaned from my own experience?
8 Tips While Waiting for Your Special Order
1) Resist the urge to entertain the sting of comparison. Don’t look at what God is doing for others. Wait with confident assurance that you are waiting because your order, your answered prayer, the fulfillment of your destiny is special. It isn’t like everyone else. Even though you can’t see it, God is busy working behind the scenes to fulfill the promises He made to you.
2) Stay in your own lane. If God wanted you to do what someone else is doing, He would have given that assignment to you.
3) Do not give up. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).
4) Do not take your eyes off your Heavenly Father. He wants to guide you. “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21 ESV).
5) Trust that God knows the plans He has for you, and that they are good. They are to prosper you and not to harm you, and include a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
6) Remember that God neither lies nor breaks His promises. “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind” (Numbers 23:19 NLT).
7) Know that God will not stop working until His work is done. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).
8) When you grow weary in the waiting, know that you do not wait alone. God is with you. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT).
May I pray for you?
Father, I lift up this friend who is reading these words right now. May they know that you have called them and gifted them with a unique purpose and with special gifts and talents. Let them rest in the knowledge that you continue to work behind the scenes, and that you never lie or break your promises. Help them to trust you will bring to pass all you have promised, in your perfect way and in your perfect time. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Because of Him, #HopePrevails
Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study {hope for overcoming depression}
Available through book retailers!
Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
not seeing an eml.. wanted to download the prescipts
Lisa,
There should be a pop-up box that pops up within about 20 seconds of being on my site where you can sign up for the prescriptions to be emailed to you.
Thank you for these timely reminders! It’s soooo easy to fall into the comparison game and forget that we each have our own God-ordained journey!
Anita, I’m glad I’m not the only one who falls into this trap. But I so desire to be content with where God has me and wait on Him for His perfect way and His perfect timing.
Michelle, this was really good. I scheduled to pin, and will be sharing to my Facebook page as well. I am visiting from the Modest Mom Mondays, and am so glad I came across this post. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by Angela, and for sharing with others. I hope it encourages others in their walk with Him.
Thank you for your honesty and encouragement… it is such a blessing ….and may you sense Gods strength and peace as you walk through these days ahead.
Blessings always
Thank you Sharon. I pray it encourages others and points them back to Him. Because of Him, #HopePrevails
Most of the I already know but i saw #8 jumps out that He is waiting with me.
I’m glad you found something to comfort!
Thank you, prayers for your husband, and a good report. Isaiah 53.
Thank you so much. We appreciate your prayers.
I love the idea of a “special order.” I think that’s more true than we realize. I am waiting on something right now and it’s hard, but I always say that if God can be as patient with us as He always is, then we should be able to be patient with Him. He sees the end and he knows the whole journey. These 8 tips are wonderful!
#homemakinglinkup
You’re so right. God has been incredibly patient with each of us. How can we not be patient and trust Him in the journey?
Visiting from #HeartEncouragement today. I think I will forever be working on the trusting. . .
As long as you’re working, you’ll make forward progress. That’s what He wants. He doesn’t ask for perfection.
Yes! Needed this reminder. Comparison does really take the joy from our life. And we don’t want that. Sometimes I remind myself of how many years Sarah had to wait for her baby. And other people in the bible had to wait for their promises. It can make my wait seem not so long.
What a great, practical reminder Theresa! That definitely helps to put things into perspective, doesn’t it?
So good! And rather timely as I am doing a book signing event today alongside five other authors… Thank you for these great reminders that God is in control always. The “waiting for the meal” story will stay with me. ?Stopping by from #momentsofhope
Laura,
I hope your book signing event went well and that you were able to enjoy being with your author friends, while avoiding the sting of comparison.
Waiting to see promises fulfilled is so very difficult and causes us to doubt easily. Trusting and surrendering to God’s timing for us is definitely a message I needed reminded of today.
Know that you aren’t alone in that Crystal. As limited human beings, I think we all need help in that area in different times in our life.