Are We There Yet?

I tend to be pretty patient. The last few days, however, I have found myself praying impatiently.

It wasn't an obvious impatience like "God please help, and do it now I can't wait any longer."

No, it was much more subtle, but impatient none the less.

I have been praying for a friend. Specifically, for her broken heart. I remember going through a time while Gary and I were seperated, when I didn't feel like I cared what the outcome would be, I just wanted the struggle to be over. My head was very clear. God was in control and it is God I want to please. My place was to surrender to God's will and be obedient to Him.

But my heart had a very different perspective. Under the weight of all of the pain, it cried out for the hurting to stop. My flesh was ready to walk any road, if it meant that it could escape it's current crisis. And to watch a friend's heart breaking, my heart longs for her escape as well.

The problem with that, of course, is that it is the perspective of my flesh.

I Corinthians 13:12 reminds me: "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

I just can't see it all. But I serve a God who does. And He told me that in all things (did you catch that? all things) He works for the good of those who love Him. That's Roman's 8:28, by the way.

Philippians 1:6 says, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

So, we can be sure that God is working in each of us and that He is working for our good. I for one do not want to miss out on what God is doing. (even my best plans, hopes, and dreams pale in comparison to what God has in store)

To just quickly read through these verses my initial reaction is "My good? Do your thing God, now where's my good?" That just reduces God to a genie in a bottle. And I can look at Him that way all day and it won't change the fact that He's not.

To really read the verses, God works for the good of those who love Him, and He carries it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

He's no genie in a bottle, here to grant my wishes. Jesus said Himself in John 14 that if anyone loves Him, they will obey Him and if they do not obey Him, then they do not love Him. He does not obey me, I obey Him. If I don't, then that promise in Roman's is not for me.

He is also not bound by my opinion of when anything should take place. I would like for His work in me to be done, well, now. But more than wanting the work to be done, I want the work to be completed. So I surrender to His timing, and He plans on continuing His work in me to completion, until the day Jesus comes back.

I want the best for my friend. And God's plan is always best, even when our hearts get broken. So, I'm praying for the work that God has begun in her and that she will have the strength to choose obedience in all things. And I'm praying the same for her husband.