It’s easy to get impatient and attempt to take matters into our own hands when we feel our prayers are going unheard.
Why does it seem like some people just ask and receive while others beg and plead with God, but to no avail?
I know, it’s hard to sit back and watch everyone around us continue to reap blessings while we sit back and wonder… when will it be our turn?
The problem with giving God deadlines is that God doesn’t move on our schedule. His timing is perfect. This is a lesson, I unfortunately had to learn the hard way.
12 years ago, I gave God a deadline. I was tired of dating all the frogs, I was ready for my prince charming, and I was ready to get married and start a family with my future husband. During our many talks and prayer sessions, I would tell God I needed to have my first child before I turned 30 and I needed to have 2 more before I turned 35. Yes, I was totally telling God I needed Him to move on my terms. I was spitting demands like I knew what was best for me. Like He didn’t know my every thought and every wish.
I turned 30. Marriage seemed like it just wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t even in a relationship.
When I turned 35 I had made up my mind that I wasn’t going to have kids. Not any biological kids anyway. I had even started to give up hope that I would ever be married.
Two years ago on my 36th birthday, I met my husband while celebrating with my family and friends at a local restaurant. 6 months later we were married. One year after being married, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Everything happened exactly the way I had always dreamed, but it didn’t happen when I wanted it to. In fact, I had my mind made up that this man couldn’t possibly be from God because I’d made it quite clear I didn’t want him after the age 35. I avoided him for a long time. I wasn’t just playing hard to get, I was determined to run this man away. But I didn’t.
My husband and I share a good laugh about it now. My husband always jokes “God waited until your deadline had passed to bring us together. That was His way of telling you “I don’t do deadlines“. Even though he says it jokingly, I think he is right.
Don’t get me wrong, we are to make our requests known to God. That’s not the problem. The problem is when we give God deadlines. We put time limits on His blessings as if we know what’s best for us or when it’s best for us.
The danger of giving God deadlines is… If we’re not careful, we can end up completely missing our blessings.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:6-7)
