Anyone else? Or is it just me?

Last year for my birthday my Mum gave me a tiny little plant in a white pot. Well actually it was 3 tiny little leaves that looked like she had just stuck them in a pot of dirt. What I didn’t realise until she told me was that they had been cuttings from her very own beautiful African Violet.

This is a very delicate pot plant that has soft velvety green leaves with dainty purple flowers….look how sweet they are!

Though mine did not look like that when my Mum gave it to me…This might give you a better idea…

So as you could imagine I was very nervous at keeping these leaves alive, hoping they would grow into a plant!

A little confession – I haven’t had the best track record with house plants. Though this one was special, so I followed all her instructions and then just had to wait…water only every few days and only from the bottom of the pot. Don’t touch the leaves and don’t leave it in the sun.

Well I have another little confession – I’m not the best at waiting. After months of faithful care for this little plant it had lots of leaves – Yay and it looked really healthy, but it had no flowers. I had it on my kitchen bench in the best spot so I could monitor and care for these little leaves that had grown roots and developed into a little plant. I was so impressed with myself. Each time a new leaf would bud and grow I was even more impressed with how God’s creation was so intricate and beautiful.

But still no flowers!

Then one day my Mum came to visit and she was equally impressed with my now 10months of efforts and how that little cutting had grown into a healthy, good sized pot plant. So I told her how worried I was that I was doing something wrong because it didn’t have flowers yet. She said to me ” Its a slow process, you just have to wait”

Slow… Wait…

I struggle with those words sometimes. Do you?

Why is it that our society is so darn focussed on getting everything right now? Layby is a thing of the past and AfterPay is in. No waiting, get it now and pay for it later.

Time seems to be flying past at the speed of light and no one wants to miss out on anything, so we’re all busy all of the time, doing all the things as fast as we can…when do we slow down? Have we lost the art of waiting?

Well there is one thing we can not hurry and the speed of it we can not control, and that is – God’s timing!

When we believe that God is always good and always works for our good, and when we remember that God has always been with us and always will be, then choosing to trust Him and His ways makes more sense. When we do this, then we can hold onto the hope that His timing is good too.

Two scriptures come to mind:

“May the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE as you trust in Him.” (Romans 15:13)

“Those who WAIT on the Lord shall renew their STRENGTH”. (Isaiah 40:31)

If in all your busyness, you’re ultimately searching for joy and peace, then being busy isn’t the answer.

If all your busyness is draining your strength then something needs to change…and I think you know what it is.

The only way to true joy and peace comes from trusting the One who holds all things together, who knows all things and holds you through all things because He cares deeply for you. Instead of striving, stressing and being busy, try trusting, being still and remembering God has got it all together, even better than you! Surely that brings the joy and peace you’re looking for!

When I chose to wait on God, doing the exact opposite of what I wanted, it was the secret to actually getting all that I really needed! He renewed my strength, and filled me with peace and joy!

And remember my African Violet plant? Well the day after my mum left I noticed a flower bud!!! After patiently – or not so patiently – waiting for over 10 months I now have 3 beautiful, dainty purple flowers. Mind you they themselves even took over a week to unfurl and display their Creators glory! Oh the beauty of the slow process…

Friend, can I encourage you today?

Perhaps you struggle with God’s timing, with waiting and taking things slow? Perhaps being so busy isn’t meeting all your needs?

How about for today you take some time out. Try slowing down and choosing to trust God. His good timing and perfect plan for you are trustworthy. Remember His faithfulness. Hold onto the truth of His Word. He will strengthen you as you wait on Him. He will fill you with all peace and joy as you trust in Him.

Blessings

Laura Jane Anslow