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Have you ever wanted something so badly that you just couldn't wait another second to get it? It's like when you order something from Amazon and 4am delivery the next day just isn’t fast enough. Or when you're super hungry, race into a drive-thru and find one car ahead of you, delaying you from eating your fries by an entire minute! In today's fast-paced world, we want everything NOW! We've gotten used to being able to get almost anything we want without delay. 

So, when we have to wait, it can feel really hard. If you ask a kid what the worst words are, "not yet" might be high on the list, right after "no." We just don't like hearing "not yet." 

But what happens when God says "not yet" to us? Do we act like grown-ups? Or do we sound a lot like those kids, saying, "But God, you just don't get it! I need it now!" 

Think about Mary and Martha. Their brother, Lazarus, was really sick, like, dying sick. They sent a message to Jesus, saying, "Lord, your friend is sick!" (John 11:3). They probably thought Jesus would rush right over. Who wouldn't want their friend to get better right away? 

But guess what? Jesus actually waited two more days where He was (John 11:6). Can you imagine how Mary and Martha felt? They must have been so worried and confused. It was like Jesus was saying, "Not yet." 

Was Jesus being mean or uncaring? No way! When Jesus finally got to Lazarus's tomb, he cried. He felt their pain. He understood how sad they were. 

I’m sure Mary and Martha were probably hurt and a little frustrated. They thought, "If only Jesus had come sooner, Lazarus wouldn't have died." But Jesus had a bigger plan. He wanted to do something even more amazing than just healing a sick person. He wanted to bring a dead person back to life! 

Life throws us curveballs sometimes, and we want answers, and we want them now. But the Bible tells us something important: "God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28). It doesn't say those good things will come in our desired timing. 

We need to remember this: God's delays are not always God saying "no." Sometimes, waiting is exactly what we need. God's timing is always perfect timing. Something you're praying for might be exactly what God wants for you, but it just might not be the right time yet. 

God has really good reasons for not answering our prayers the second we ask. Sometimes, the best answer we can get is simply, "Not yet." It means He's got something even better in store, or He's preparing us, or He's getting things ready for His perfect plan to unfold. 

 

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for your incredible patience with me when I'm impatient. When I feel like I can't wait another minute, please remind me of your faithfulness in the past. Strengthen my faith so I can trust your "not yet" answers and know that something amazing is coming. I know You want to hear what is on my heart.  Lord, I am still waiting for Your answer to... 

REFLECTION:  How do you usually react when you hear "not yet" from someone, or when a plan doesn't happen when you wanted it to? How can you remind yourself that God's delays are not denials, especially when you're feeling frustrated? 

 

Did today's blog post resonate with you? If you have thoughts to share or want to explore these ideas further, Pastor Vic would be happy to connect. You can reach out to him directly at victor@connectdinners.org.