Purposeful Delay

Featured ~ Lisa Brittain
{Flight delayed}

There’s a purpose in timing. There’s a reason for every delay. These are truths, but many times these facts are not so easily digested when served.

Frustration born out of inconvenience threatens to overtake God’s peace. Our calendars packed to the edges don’t allow for one scheduled item to become out of order or mis-timed.

Our world moves at a harried pace!

{Fruit ripening on the vine takes time.}

I’m now taking time to ponder these truths this day because once again my flight reservations have been completely re-scheduled. Instead of preparing to board my flight, I’m about to take a walk. I plan to review the status of new blueberries on the stems, and then stroll over to check the color on a few tomatoes. Perhaps, I will one more time, enjoy a glorious orange sunset from this vantage point.

My plans were made months ago to fly home this evening. I had everything organized and timed. And yet, it is not meant to be this time.

So, what are my choices here?

I can see this as a negative or a positive. I can react in anger, and react to the disruption of my plans. OR, I can see that this is an opportunity to live in flexibility and respond with gratitude. This is my choice and I get to choose how I live through these rearranged days of my life.

{More time with loved ones.}

Even as I continue to write, I am now into the next day of attempting to get home. I’m currently sitting at the airport watching planes take off, and waiting. My new flight is on a 3 hour delay. I’m still okay with my connecting flight, so I’ve decided to take this as a personal day with Jesus.

Whatever is happening with planes, crews, weather across the country, and scheduling, it’s all beyond my control. I have no power to change any of these variables. I’m at the mercy of the system and circumstances, and that’s what tends to make us angry.

But I’m not alone, powerless or without mercy. I have Jesus with me, living in me by His Spirit and I have His authority to see with His eyes, and hear with His ears. I get to be His ambassador right here in the place where I’m assigned today, and to serve people with His kindness and grace.

{In fullness of time…}

For this particular scenario I do not know the reason, but because of all my previous experience with God’s goodness, I can trust this delay is for a good purpose. I simply want to be submitted to the Lord, and pliable in His hands. He trusted me to be here, to listen and watch, and live love brightly today.

Lord, Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on You today. Teach me what You want me to know, and use these unusual circumstances to purify me of all that doesn’t look like You. I’m ready to be Your servant today. Let Your will be done on earth today as it is in heaven and be glorified through me. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

Eyes on Jesus and Shine,

Lisa

#eyesonjesusandshine #delay #livelovebrightly #goodgod #purpose #timing #blueberries #flight #mercy #personalday

Published by Lisa Brittain

I am a curious follower of Jesus. I have been since my early twenties when I met Him personally and received miraculous healing in my body and mind. After many years of marriage and raising sons into the teen years, I received a challenge to explore the duplicity of my spoken faith followed up by my fearful living choices. It was my two sons, who loved me enough to confront me with the truth. They called out the hypocrisy of fear, and I am forever thankful. Chips off my proverbial block! I determined then to overcome fear with faith that was more than words. Years ago, with my eyes open to my sin of unbelief I made a decision to leave the desert wandering behind and set out to pursue the abundant life Jesus promised His disciples. God has been faithful to teach me, grow me up, and help me to let go of all the things that used to mean security to me. My passion is to walk so closely to Jesus that others want to know Him too. I love to introduce women to Him as we walk, talk, and work together hand in hand through everyday life. Nothing thrills me more than to watch someone fall in love with Jesus through His word; learning to trust His heart and receive His great love! I have been married to my dear man for over 36 rollercoaster years. We're simply thrilled that our latter days are more joyful and purposeful than our first. Together we have helped to grow two young men, who are now married with their own families. God is continuing to help them write their own faith stories. Additionally, we share our home with an old rescue pup. I look forward to having you join me here to fix our eyes on Jesus and shine with His radiance, Lisa Psalm 34:5

12 thoughts on “Purposeful Delay”

  2. Love this so much. This is the season I am in currently. Waiting. In times of waiting, we tend to get anxious, as if he has forgotten about us. I am reminded of this one thing, he knows what he’s doing. All he is asking from us is to, Trust! Thank you for sharing!

  3. Oh, I believe it. If we met for a coffee it would be an all day event. And I would LOVE it. I’m learning from your grief experience so keep writing and sharing, Lois🌸🪴

  4. Aw, Lisa … I’m so sorry your trip home too so much longer than expected but I do appreciate the perspective you’ve shared here. Especially this: For this particular scenario I do not know the reason, but because of all my previous experience with God’s goodness, I can trust this delay is for a good purpose.” Amen and amen! I think we could have a good long conversation about the times when delays brought about God’s greater goodness!

  5. Ha ha, yes, I did make it home – safe and sound. I enjoyed my day of watching people and whispering God’s blessings over several who seemed in need. I watched lots of teens pass the time with cards, and young boys play soccer in an out of the way section of a terminal. I’m grateful for a quiet day of pondering and watching and listening.
    Thank you for reading and responding 🌸🪴

  6. Lisa I do hope you are home by now, I totally get this as I just spent an equally frustrating time at the airport trying to get home! God is good, and all worked out, and we may never know the real reason, but YES we do know God is Good and is always with us!

  8. “I get to choose how I live through these rearranged days of my life.” Lisa, this was a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. May I choose wisely and rightly and trust Him with every rearranged day of my life!

  9. Thank you 😊
    I’ve now been flying all day and people watching in airports. I’m looking forward to catching your great post!

  11. Hi Barbara!
    I will give any credit to the Lord, and my husband, as I seek the positive in delay. It has become necessary for my husband and I to learn to live at a much slower pace, and leave plenty of margin for health reasons. I have greatly benefited from these lessons. I pray we all see improvement in evidence of the fruit of the spirit in Jesus’ name and for His glory!
    Thank you for reading and commenting today. I’m looking for your post as well 🍓

  12. This is where I want to be when these kinds of problems happen. I’m afraid frustration comes first, then I have to remind myself of these truths to get to a place of peace. Hopefully over time that distance between frustration and peace will get shorter.

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