Have you been praying for something and then watched as someone around you was blessed with that thing you were praying for?
I remember a while ago getting an email from an old friend that I was very close to years ago. We had gone in different directions in life. We used talk about how she would never get married and she would tell me that I would most definitely be the one to get married, and to get married first.
In the email, she shared about how she was engaged to be married. I squealed at first, because I was so happy that she had finally found the man that she wanted to marry, but then came the other emotions. I was ashamed to admit that she had received what I had been praying for. For so many years.
I had been walking this path and doing it God's way, but still no husband or prospective husband in sight. Yet, my old friend that was walking a different path was now going to take that much dreamed about walk down the aisle.
We all go through this and to deny that would be dishonest. We do not want to feel or think that way, but we are human and it happens. We must face the fact and get to root, and get back on track.
When others are being blessed with things we have been praying for we get a heart check. We can ignore the check in our hearts, but ignoring it will not make it go away. The heart check tells us what are underlying feelings are and the true condition of our heart. It allows us to check our feelings, thoughts and motives. It shows us where we are, how far we have come and where we need to go.
I know this can be a hard pill to swallow, but watching others be blessed should encourage us, because we see that God honors His promises, and if it can happen for others it can happen for us. If we cannot be happy for others who are blessed, we will never be happy even after we have been blessed. When all we feel when see others blessed is envy, discontentment, bitterness and jealousy it is safe to say that no matter what we obtain it will never be enough. We will always be contending and competing for what the next person has instead of enjoying what we have been given.
Do not be discouraged or envious of what others are being blessed with or when they are blessed with it, instead be thankful that God has blessings uniquely designed for each of us. I know that I would much rather wait for my perfect “just for me” blessings, and who knows us better than ourselves, but God who is the giver of all blessings.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)
Three things we must cling to:
God is faithful.
“God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLV)
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NIV)
God is good.
“For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5 ESV)
God is able.
“And God is able to bless you abundantly” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLV)
Don’t feed the enemy.
The enemy is resentment.
The enemy is discouragement.
The enemy is fear and lack of faith.
The enemy is discouragement.
The enemy is fear and lack of faith.
Instead feed your faith. Feed your love. Feed your joy.
What I cling to in the days of waiting and asking God, ‘when will it be my turn?’ is Psalm 37:4 ;
“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” (ESV)
I know that God sees the desires of each of our hearts and longs to fulfill them, but would you give a child a new car knowing full well that they cannot yet drive it and that it would harm themselves, and possibly others even though they really wanted it? No, you would wait until they were more fully mature and able to receive that blessing?
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:11 NLV)
Practice and cultivate being joyful for others blessings and take anything opposite of that directly to the Lord, don’t let those negative feelings linger. Know this, each of our days of fulfillment are coming so continue to praise Him and continue to wait.
“If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV)
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