A few days ago, my little sister ran over to me crying hysterically. Her words seemed to jumble together from being so upset.
I asked her what was wrong, and she finally managed to say, “My markers aren’t working, the colors are not bright anymore.”
You’re probably thinking,
“What’s the big deal?”
Here’s the thing, my sister absolutely loves art and drawing.
In her mind, that was it.
The world was ending and she would never be able to color with markers ever again.
“What happened to them.. why aren’t they working anymore?” I asked her.
She hesitated at first and finally said, “I left the caps off and they dried out. Buy me new ones pleassse.”
Now, it would have been easy for me to go out to the store and buy her some brand new and even better markers (which I had planned on doing)
But I needed her to understand something.
I looked at her and said,
“Before I buy you new markers, I need to know that you will be able to take care of them. You cannot let the new ones dry out just because you do not like them anymore.”
This made me wonder if this is the same way God looks at us when we’ve given up on nurturing and taking care of what we already have, because we want more.
Tell me if this sounds familiar…
You filled out some applications for a new job. No call backs and its been weeks.
….you get on social media and the first post you see is someone talking about how they were just hired on the spot.
You would like to find someone to settle down with & crave a love that sets your soul on fire.
….three more of your friends just got engaged, married, and announced the newest addition to their family.
You are not sure what you want to do in life and feel confused about your future plans.
…then here comes the person who seems to have the perfectly put together life and knows exactly what they want.
That was me last year. I had just graduated college & told myself I would find a full time job in my field right away.
Weeks go by… then months… now it had been a little over a year and I still could not find a full time job.
I was beyond miserable. It seemed like everyone around me was so much further ahead than I was.
I was VERY angry at God because nothing in my life was going the way I wanted it to.
I stopped praying because I started to feel like I was talking to myself.
I felt like this:
“I’ve been doing the right things in life, why does everyone else so easily get the things I am begging for? Its not fair.”
You are exactly where you need to be.
Those are the words that put everything into perspective for me.
My mindset was the only thing that had changed & amazing things started happening in my life.
Even though my circumstances looked the same,
I was changing.
I was making an effort to grow and give 100% to my job, things, and people in my life.
I worked hard to stop focusing on the things I did not have, or the things I was not yet accomplishing.
With this change, doors began seemingly FLYING open for me lol.
I started attracting more positive people into my life, because I became a positive person.
I got a FULL TIME job in my field of study and went back to school to pursue my Masters degree doing something I loved.
BUT, I did not receive these blessings until I became someone who could maintain them.
Wherever you are in life right now is preparing you for the things that you are praying and hoping for.
God wants to give you the desires of your heart and bless you in ways that you never imagined possible.
But first he wants to make sure that you are fully prepared to receive whatever it is you’re asking for.
Receiving a blessing before you are ready can turn out to be a curse.
While you wait for those doors to open, put all of your time, thoughts and energy into becoming the person who can be trusted to maintain whatever it is you’re praying for.
Here is where you can start …
Ask Yourself #1
Am I truly prepared to receive AND maintain what I’ve been praying and hoping for?
For example, that new job you want comes with more responsibility, frustration, and new challenges. Are you ready to put in the effort (that may sometimes go unnoticed) or the extra hours?
You want a healthy, happy, and fulfilling relationship… but how do you react when the two of you disagree about something? Are you quick to run away from your problems? Are you jealous, insecure, or controlling and NEED someone else to validate and make you feel special and secure?
Ask Yourself #2
What is this part of my life trying to teach me about myself?
A lesson can be learned in every situation and interaction we have with the people around us… if we pay attention.
What patterns or hurts keep showing up repeatedly in your life? Are you easily triggered by certain situations? That may be an indication that there is something inside of you that is going unaddressed and unhealed.
Ask Yourself #3
Is there a skill that you need to develop first before you can receive more?
Are you truly investing in yourself and the areas of your life that need improvement? Are you doing all that you can to learn about your likes/dislikes/interest, or nurturing your gifts?
Every new level in life demands a better, smarter, and more refined version of yourself.
Allow God to prepare you AND the way.
Sometimes, it is not you who isn’t ready,
It may be that God looked down the road and saw that it isn’t safe yet for you to move forward.
Sometimes we pray and hope for things, but God knows that if he gives us that thing before we are ready, it will ruin us.
Or, there are people who are tied to our destiny and life who may still need more time to become someone who is ready to receive all that we have to offer.
Lastly,
Keep this in mind
You haven’t been forgotten about nor are you stuck in life. Your blessings ARE on the way.
Do not compare yourself to the people around you. Your unique journey will be the thing that helps someone else get through what you are experiencing right now.
You are not worth less than anyone just because they are accomplishing more.
It is never too late. No matter how much time passes, the things that are meant for you, will be YOURS, always.
No one can stop God from blessing your life.
For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
Derrick Logan II says
After reading this, I can most definitely say that I am not ready for what I’ve been praying and hoping for lol. But understanding that I am exactly where I need to be removes the need to be perfect now and helps me to be grateful for the progress I have made. I pray that I can become more and take care of what I have now so that I can maintain the blessings that I seek and do the work that I’m here to do. Thank you so much for this post