It’s easier to give up than to keep trying and fail.
Wouldn’t we rather go for the things we’re certain will work out? Anything to avoid disappointment, right?
It can be hard to remain hopeful. Especially while waiting for things completely out of our control. Those things require trust and faith in Someone bigger than us. Waiting for a job, a spouse, children, healing, breakthrough, a new perspective or mindset.
Waiting for a promise.
Has God given you a promise you need to remain hopeful for?
I believe one of the things God promised me was an opportunity lead a trip overseas someday, more specifically a Passport trip (1-3 months, 18-22 yr olds) with Adventure’s in Missions.
There are endless promises God has made to you. Some are universal. Promises for all. The promise that you were created with a purpose. You’re beautiful. You’re valuable. Promises that life won’t be easy, but knowing Him produces life. The promise that He’ll never leave you. He sees you and knows you. He is for you.
Some promises are unique to you. He’s made them specifically to you and for you. Promises related to desires and dreams of yours. Some promises He’s made to you that you aren’t even aware of yet. His plans often include what you can’t see or imagine. But the future holds the fulfillment of those promises to you.
Knowing those things doesn’t necessarily make waiting any easier. And when the promises don’t work out like you thought they would, it’s hard to stay hopeful.
Believing that God had promised me an opportunity to lead a Passport trip, I applied in January. I didn’t get accepted. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. You can read more about that story by clicking here.
When I finally sat with the Lord, He told me to wait and rest.
I waited and rested. But after a little while, I let my dreams shift elsewhere. I began planning other adventures. Slowly, over time, I let myself lose hope in the promise.
It wasn’t that I didn’t ever think about it. It wasn’t that I no longer wanted to. I just didn’t know if it was really what God wanted for me.
Maybe He didn’t tell me to lead a Passport trip. Maybe He just meant for me to lead any trip. Or maybe He DID tell me to lead a Passport trip, but maybe that was only so I would come to CGA. Or maybe it was so I would apply and be rejected so He could take me on a deeper journey with Him.
Doubting the promise He had for me, I signed up to lead a short-term trip (1 week, 13-18 yr olds) instead of a Passport trip. God hadn’t asked me to sign up, but I was tired of waiting. With summer weeks away, I was running out of time.
I decided to put my future in my hands rather than trusting the Lord.
Sounds a lot like a guy named Abraham, doesn’t it? He was promised a son and when it took too long, he took matters into his own hands. It didn’t go too well. But Abraham’s story is one of redemption and of God’s faithfulness. God made him a promise and even though Abraham grew impatient, God’s promise remained.
Have you compromised for less than what God’s promised you? Have you grown impatient and tried to make a promise come true yourself? Where do you need to restore some hope so that you can remain confident in God and trust His timing?
Take today to reclaim the promises!
