We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,”—Colossians 1:11
When things aren’t happening like we think they should, we tend to get impatient…at least I do. If God is making us wait on something there is a reason for His delay. We have to trust His ways even when we don’t understand them. That is called faith. You have to believe that God knows what is best for you and when and if it should happen.
In Galatians 5:22-33, patience is one of the fruits of the spirit. I will be the first to admit this is not my strong point. I have attempted sock knitting 4 times! I gave up the first time, but after my daughter saw the pair my friend, Patti, made me, she encouraged me to try it again. It helps to persevere when you have another believer giving you wisdom along the way.
How was my 2nd attempt? Frustrating to say the least. Part of the reason is that I have a hard time sitting still with small needles in my hands. However, having an encourager that builds me up when I feel like a failure is what kept me going. Patti has been this friend not just for my sock knitting but in my life too. The easy thing for me would have been to quit trying. This is a tactic that Satan wants us to employ in our life too.
When you are praying about a situation that may seem hopeless, Satan will whisper in your ear, “Why are you even praying about this, it’s never going to change. No amount a prayer is going to change this outcome, so you might as well stop.” “This is too hard, if God really wanted me to do this, wouldn't it be easier? God must not want me to pursue this.” These are all lies that the enemy uses to weaken our faith and draw us further from our Lord and Savior. His goal is to destroy our faith through the trials while God wants to develop our faith through them.
You may be praying about a prodigal child, a loveless marriage, an unfaithful spouse, the loss of a job or someone you love, a broken relationship, an illness…I don’t know what prayer of yours isn’t being answered in your time, but remember that God’s timing is always perfect.
We are equipped with the Holy Spirit to endure during the waiting period. From our human perspective, we see a turtle pace but from God’s eternal perspective it is in the perfect speed. Waiting on God and His timing is not easy. It has been nearly 4 years since the start of my knitting book journey. I have faith in His plan and timing. During the waiting period I can see how He has been growing and equipping me for the book launch in October. He was and is with me on this unknown journey.
Dear Lord,
Help me to walk in faith even when I am not seeing results. Give me the patience to trust Your timetable and not mine. Even though I may not see things moving, I praise You that through Your glorious power, You are always behind the scenes orchestrating Your perfect timing. According to Your Word, You will give me the strength, endurance and fill me with joy on this journey. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.
By the way, the socks in the photo below, I made! They are the result of my 4th attempt! The 1st two pairs I completed, but they weren’t wearable. In fact my second pair, which I thought I could wear, unraveled after I washed them due to some dropped stitches. My 3rd pair were too big and didn’t match. This pair, while not perfect, I did finish and they fit! I figured that with as much money that I have invested in sock yarn, I should come up with an easy pattern that I can do and finish!
June Memory Verse: This verse is now imprinted on my heart and I repeat it every time I start to worry about something.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”—Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.