It reminded me of something I'd heard from the youth pastor at church the night before. Life often presents us with red lights and stop signs. You feel like you're going nowhere. Just sitting, waiting for something exciting to happen. Or maybe you have a plan, but it's just not falling into place the way you want it right now. And you have to wait. Unable to do anything. Just like at a red light. The thing we have to remember is that (frustrating as they are) these red lights and stop signs on the road are provided for a purpose. They aren't there to try and make people late/annoyed (although sometimes I do wonder). They are, in the long run, there to help us. To prevent accidents. In the same way, this is exactly why God places stop signs and red lights in our lives. To prevent mistakes. It may seem to us like we are sitting there screaming at that light to change because nothing but frustration is going on inside. But the truth is, God is using that time to mould and change you inside so that you will be ready for what is coming next once that light turns green. There's no use skipping to the next thing if you aren't prepared. Otherwise things get messy. (E.g. I would love to just marry J.T tomorrow-sadly we have not finished organizing the wedding-by jumping that red light I would wind up with a disastrous wedding. Or how about the fact I just want to hurry up and move to America now. I could do that. I could jump the red light and just go when I feel like it. However, that decision could result in some rather messy visa issues, and probably me being banned from the USA for good. Lol.
My point being there is a reason things happen at a certain time. And we all know everything works out perfectly in God's timing. It's just a case of being able to be still while we sit at that red light and wait for it to change. Just to be still and enjoy what God is doing inside.
I listened to the Avenue Q soundtrack today. And the song 'For Now' just highlighted everything I'd been thinking about all of this.
'Don't stress,
Relax,
Let life roll off your backs
Except for death and paying taxes,
Everything in life is only for now!'
Ok, so ignore the rather sombre 'except for death and paying taxes' line. And think about the 'Everything in life is only for now' I mean how true is that? Maybe you're struggling with university and cannot wait to be done. Good news....it's not permanent. Or perhaps you just got a spur of the moment, terrible haircut. Good news....it's not permanent. Maybe you are stuck in a dead end job, and you have higher aspirations but you just can't afford/fit them in right now. Good news....it's not permanent.
We just need to remember that we are at this red light or stop sign for a reason. Something is being developed inside us. Our character is being strengthened. Think of all you have achieved so far in life-no matter how big or small these accomplishments may seem. I bet there was no way you could have achieved half of these things years back. Because you weren't ready to face them. God has a way of timing things perfectly so that everything falls into place. So that everything happens for a reason. And while we can't always see that straight away, or maybe for years. We just have to be patient and wait for the green light.
Remember, no light stays red forever!
Keep Smiling,
Cat x
