Worth the Wait

So I've had braces a little over a year now and if you've had braces before you know the struggle can become real, especially after a visit from getting them tighten. Having your braces adjusted can cause some mild pain and discomfort, since it puts pressure on your teeth. As the teeth are under pressure, bones and tissues are breaking down. The teeth and their supporting structures are then able to begin moving again, continuing the process of slowly moving the teeth into their desired positions. I'm able to tolerate the shifting, discomfort and pain because I know the pressure is for my good. Every now and then I find myself examining my teeth to see if any progress has been made. In some places, I see an enormously amount of change. Other areas, not so much but I know something is happening. 

As I examine what I think to be slow progression, I begin to think of the change and seasons in my own life. How much is my life evolving? When will this happen or when will that happen? Although I can't fully see the change in my life in some areas, I know that God is making things happen behind the scenes. He's moving people and breaking things down on my behalf to fulfill the very desires of my heart. The same applies for you. He's moving things and people in the right place for the right time. He's causing all things to work for your good (Romans 8:28). But how many of us can honestly say we tolerate the shifting and sometime discomfort and pain that this period sometimes causes? I can be honest with you, not many of us! During this time of me having braces there’s a waiting period. A period that can sometimes be uncomfortable, but necessary.

Here's the hard truth. Some of us aren't waiting long enough to receive the blessing before we abort the process. We want to see the blessing instantly or how we believe the blessing should be. We want the blessing on our timetable. See even though I don't see immediate change I wouldn't go and tell the orthodontist to remove my braces. I wouldn't go into the bathroom and begin to remove the braces on my own. That would be absurd! No, I continue to wait to see the full results. Shouldn't we be able to wait on God to show his hand at work? Shouldn't we trust that He knows exactly what he's doing? He's aligning people and things in order for eternity. We align things for today. We don't think the entire plan through, but God does. He sees the beginning from the end. 

As you go through this season of waiting for the dream job, waiting for the perfect spouse, waiting for the financial breakthrough or the lost family member its important that you don't give up on the process just because you don't see it happening. See, the doctor gave me an expected date for when my braces would be removed. Can I tell you that God has an expected date for when your blessing will be revealed! It is the appointed time! What will connect you to the blessing will be your willingness to 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). As you wait patiently, God is renewing your strength. You are getting stronger. You are being enlarged to maintain the blessing. The pregnant woman doesn't get smaller as she carries her unborn child. She becomes larger because the child is growing on the inside of her. Focus in on Jesus during this time. Maintain the portion God has already given you because I promise you, your blessing will be well worth the wait.