The holiday season is in full swing and many of us are fully engaged in the hustle and bustle of the season. As a mom of two girls, I’ve listened to my children rattle of the items on their wish list for months and I’m often asked, “Mommy, are you sure you’re going to keep your promise to get me what I’ve asked for?” I hear the excitement in their little voices as they anticipate the moment they’ll be able to see what it is they’ve asked for. The challenge for my girls, and for many of us adults, is learning how to navigate the tension between making the request and receiving the promise.
What I know for sure is that GOD cannot lie; whatever He has promised, we can be confident it will come pass. What often becomes the tool of choice used by the enemy to cause doubt is enduring the wait. I’m encouraged by the example of Abraham in the Holy Scriptures in Hebrews 6:13 – 15 {NLT}, “For example, there was GOD’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no greater to swear by, GOD took an oath in his own name, saying: I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number. Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what GOD had promised.”
And so after figuring GOD was moving too slow and not mindful that time was passing him by, Abraham decided to take matters into his own hands to obtain the promise. Hold on, that’s not what the Hebrews 6:15 says, does it? But think about it, isn’t this how we often feel when enduring the wait becomes way too much? We often want to manifest GOD’s promises in our own strength rather than enduring the wait, trusting that He knows what’s best.
The beauty of anticipating what’s to come is that for starters, GOD’s promises concerning our lives are far greater than we could ever try and manifest on our own. It is in our waiting we learn how to trust that GOD knows exactly what He’s doing and has an appointed time to deliver on what He promised. We must learn to wait with patience; and not simply waiting without activity or doing nothing, but waiting in faith, waiting with hope because we know that He that has promised is faithful to deliver.
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, many of us are in the waiting position, anticipating GOD to deliver on what He has promised. Just like children with innocent faith excitedly waiting to receive what they’ve asked for from their parents, I encourage you to stay the course and wait on GOD anticipating that the best is yet to come!
Towanda Coles is a native Baltimorean with a passion for teaching and developing Servant Leaders to serve in the spirit of kingdom excellence. Towanda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Bowie State University. She is a proud wife and mother and resides with her family in Baltimore County. Towanda shares her thoughts on leadership at www.kingdomexcellenceconsulting.com. Connect with Towanda online via Twitter @TCInspires and on Periscope @TCInspires.
