Have you ever waited what feels like an eternity for God to answer your prayers? Have you been waiting years for a breakthrough that still hasn’t come? I am sure we have all been there at some point in our lives when the waiting just seems to drag on and on.
As I enter my 5th year of waiting I can recall many moments along this journey where the dark hole of hopelessness loomed. Strength was depleted, faith was hanging on by a thread and hope threatens its eternal retreat.
Yet in all the crying, praying, interceding, believing, watching, waiting and wondering if any of this is making any difference, there is just one thing that has consistently kept me going and has always pulled me back on track. His promises.
God has given me many a promise that I will overcome and it will all work out for good. I have no doubt that God is faithful to all His promises.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”. Romans 8:28
Despite all the questions and the endurance it has taken to keep going, his promise is what leads me on. It’s what makes me face each day with a renewed hope that perhaps today is the day.
As I was praying recently pushing back once again the thoughts “It’s just never going to happen”, “this is never going to change”. God challenged me. He really picked the perfect moment don’t you think? I mean wasn’t this supposed to be MY moment to question Him? He gatecrashed my pity party with this challenge:
“Why live in the present when you can live in the promise?”
Since I was a young girl I have what I call “My Promise Book” and in it I have kept a record of every promise, prophetic word, scripture or encouragement I have ever received that has meant something to me. I often go back and reflect on those words, some have come to pass others are still in progress yet it has always been the place I go when I need a reminder to get my eyes off the present and onto the promise.
For many years, I was of the opinion that my promises from God are still to come and I must wait patiently for them. Perhaps I thought it would all of a sudden happen in a predestined moment in time when the promise angels will flutter down and deliver it to my door in a nice neat package.
Our promise is not a final destination but a journey that we are walking in today.
He showed me that living in the promise is not just a matter of time but a matter of choice. The promise is already here and we can either live each day looking at the present or living in the promise.
The present says “this is hopeless, my breakthrough will never come” but the promise says “today is a day of purpose and God is already working it out on my behalf”. The present tells me “You can’t do that, you’re not able” while the promise tells me “go for it, you were born for this”.
We are the ones with the power to turn the future promise into our present reality!
Has God given you a promise? Has He promised you a future that looks very different to your present? The good news is the waiting is over, your time has come, your promise is already here. Lift your eyes off the present and look at your today through the promise of tomorrow and begin to walk each day with that destination in mind and the promise will find you in the journey.
If you don’t feel you have ever received a promise from God then the Bible is full of them and you can search them out and claim them as your own.
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20
It’s time to take your eyes off the present and focus on the promise and walk each day with purpose.
Beneath the Red Lippy by Angela Williams 