Delays (Part 2)

Delay: a holdup; a detainment; a wait

Do you know that moment when you are driving along to work, singing, drinking your flavor of caffeine for the moment, happily gloating in the fact that you are on time.......and WHAM! Traffic stops. There's no warning and no signs to give you time to think over a possible delay. No time to come up with a "new path"---just a SUDDEN STOP. Been there? Lights ahead are flashing red and blue, indicating emergency vehicles are at the scene of an accident. You should be concerned for the people or animals involved in the wreck, but, unfortunately, the first thought that fills your head (at least what usually fills mine) is, "Great. Now I'm going to be late."
You have the decision to follow the orders of the aggravated police personnel standing in the middle of the road with his neon orange wand motioning you to STOP and wait, OR you can take the DETOUR offered. What do you do? If you STOP and WAIT, you are going to lose time. If you TAKE THE DETOUR, you just might have to lose even more time---or worse---you may have to go back to where you started.

You do NOT want to hear frivolity from a DJ on a radio station giving you immature words, "Traffic is a mess, but don't worry! We'll be with you all the way!" What you want to hear is the guy in the helicopter above the scene giving you a new route--a way around the chaos--so that you won't be stuck there forever.

Whether it's a pothole that appears suddenly in the road, causing a flat tire in your car or an unexpected accident that ALWAYS appears suddenly, it IS a delay.

We have them in life--those "potholes" of life. They are delays that are unexpected, unwanted, and not fun. The kind that put you on the bottom of the shower floor in tears because you don't know which way to turn. They are ugly delays that seem to make your life stop. We all have had them, and if you haven't, you will. Fortunately, I went to college and learned under a great woman of God who had cancer while she taught us. We watched her LIVE the verses that I'm going to share with you.

Maybe you awakened to find that you have cancer like two of my very good friends are experiencing right now. Unexpected. Where did that come from? What did they do to deserve that? Nothing. It is a delay that could be permanent with which God has entrusted them. He trusts them to walk through the trial to teach others.

Perhaps you received a phone call that your job had just been terminated. You had no warning; there was nothing you could have done. Purely, the circumstances were beyond your control. But, what now? Do you really have to start a whole new career? A new job? In this economy?

Maybe you had a tragedy, and suddenly your current goals were crushed, causing you to go back to square one and draw a new game plan. Disappointment can be one of the worse feelings in the world

You might have heard those awful words come out of your mate's mouth that he/she doesn't love you anymore. You've been chosen over. It was horribly unexpected and dreaded. It was that moment you thought, "This happens to other people, not me." Devastation and a sick heart filled your very being as the devil made you feel like you weren't enough for your lover, and your life seemed to stop. It had to be the heartbreak of the lowest kind.

You've been betrayed by your closest of friends. You were suddenly and without warning a leftover, a gossipped-about loner who didn't see it coming.

Well, take a deep breath, and first realize that these delays aren't roads that suddenly drop off into the ocean. They are just painful delays that God allows. Maybe they are actually full-fledged detours and you DO have to start all over with a new job, a new mate, or a new game plan. We have all been there. If you are on the "other side" of the tragedy, don't be quiet and hide how to help others. Speak up, share with the hurting, and use God's Word to help someone. We have a cutting edge on the Devil---we have the Word of God and Jesus Christ Himself to give us hope, guidance, and peace when we relinquish the delay to Him. NOT easy to do, but we CAN through Christ.

1. God never gives us more than we can handle.

2. He gives us the grace to walk through anything. He IS that reporter in the helicopter ABOVE the situation and is looking down giving instructions.

3. Every day, there are mercies anew. Look for them.

4. Look for the spiritual friend who has gone through it and made it. They are life changers, and you need them. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

IPeter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he carethfor you."

Psalm 4:8 "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep : for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."

Ruth 2:12 "The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust."

II Samuel 22:31 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried : he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."

Psalm 52:8 "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever."

II Kings 20:5 "Turn again , and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD."

Job 16:20 "My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God."

Psalm 6:6 "I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim ; I water my couch with my tears."

Psalm 126:5 "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

Psalm 18:6 "In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."

Psalm 19:3 "There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard."

I love this last verse the most of all. No matter what language we speak or pray in, God understands. There is not a human who can help your "delay" like our Holy God and His Word. Draw nigh to Him.

Lastly, I have friends who have gone through every one of these delays above. Do you think that if I need a hand they will understand? Absolutely. God can give you that Christian friend, but even if He doesn't, He is enough.

Have a great day!
Stephanie