But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
I had a profound moment the other day.
It’s interesting – I’ve always thought of myself as someone who is fairly self-sufficient and God-directed. Meaning, I do what needs to be done, but am empowered and directed by God.
I have game plans and backup plans and alternative plans and the like.
And – generally, I’m pretty good about following through on the directives that God has given me – even if they take time.
I’ll try something again and again until it makes sense or I figure out how to make it work. In fact, I often find that the way I had envisioned doing something is not the way I succeed at doing it at all.
Take my exercise life for example.
Years ago, when I was working out very regularly (as opposed to the half-hearted way I do now), I’d get up in the mornings and run or do a workout video or get on the treadmill or what have you.
I learned that (for me) getting up first thing in the morning ensured I knocked my workout out and I wouldn’t get interrupted by the myriad things that I come across in a given day. I wouldn’t be thrown off track when I got an extra project at work (and had to work through my lunch, when I planned to work out). I wouldn’t have to detour to pick up my child early – ruining my plan for getting in a few miles after work. I wouldn’t decide I was too tired after pushing through a meeting to make my afternoon 2-mile track walk.
If I got up in the morning, it was the first thing I did and then – surprise, surprise – it was over! No more thinking about when I’d get my workout in or fighting my fatigue as I collapsed on the couch at the end of the day (or is that just me?). No more 9pm guilt because it turned out 8pm was the worst possible time for me to work out because I had zero energy by then.
So in the last year or two, I still work out – just haphazardly and half-heartedly.
I noticed my motivation was low because a. I love myself exactly the way I am (which doesn’t help when you’re trying to lose weight!), b. I have a wonderful husband who appears to love me exactly the way I am and c. I have a small child, who takes up a lot of emotional and physical energy.
So I’ve been busy working full-time and raising my child.
And – apparently – I’ve been waiting.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
Waiting for the perfect day (when the sky is sunny and bright and beautiful and the temperature is perfect and only cloudy enough to give some much-needed occasional shade).
Waiting for the perfect inspiration.
Waiting to have more time.
Waiting to become more motivated (which apparently happens entirely alone by magic!).
Waiting until my body decided it’d had enough.
Waiting until I got fed up and changed my habits.
Waiting until – I couldn’t even tell you for what.
I can only tell you I finally stopped waiting.
Because in my prayer life the other day, God said….
Wait for it, this is profound….
Still waiting, right???
He said “Nothing just happens.”
Yep.
That was it.
Nothing just happens.
No bluebird is going to land on my shoulder and give me the inspiration to run a marathon (though I finally did manage a half-marathon last year).
No super fit workout gal is going to show up at my doorstep and force me to run each morning.
My child won’t magically be able to put together the right sentences to remind me I need to be in good health to see her graduate and to see my future grandbabies.
A voice from heaven isn’t going to rush down from the clouds, lift me into heavenly spaces and divinely inspire me to work out (or do anything else for that matter).
Jesus isn’t going to run beside me (though that would be quite lovely) and keep me company during my runs.
Nothing just happens.
And the only reason I actually heard that voice was because I wasn’t busy doing something else (which is a subject of a whole other post).
Wasn’t worrying.
Wasn’t stressing.
Was just….listening. For a change.
Praying to God and actually listening for His answer.
Strange, right?
It was quite delightful in fact.
So with that knowledge, I turn to face the challenges on this particular day.
And if nothing just happens…
Then I need to make it happen.
What are you willing to make happen today?
Waiting for what????
God gave each man his own Talent. It's what you do with that talent you already have. accept yourself for who you are. You alreadyhave everything you need from day one.what God give you is a choice to make the right decision to go down the right path. You are the master of your own destiny
Posted by: Marilyn h. | February 11, 2018 at 02:07 PM