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Does it feel like God is delaying your dream?
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Trusting God with Your Story

Does it feel like God is delaying your dream?

September 1, 2020
-
Posted by Cindi

What are you waiting for God to accomplish in your life? 

We often quote Psalm 37:4 as our “guarantee” that God is going to come through with granting our desires. After all, that verse says: “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” We want our desires and we want them now. But we need to look more closely at that verse and the one that follows. Could it be that God is saying once we delight ourselves in Him, He will place in our hearts certain desires that He will delight in granting? The verse that follows says: “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do it” (verse 5). I believe God is saying “Delight yourself in Me and I will give you desires for what I desire, and then I’ll gladly grant them.” 

I remember feeling desperate to get my first book published. But looking back now, I was focused on what I wanted to write, the way I wanted that book to look, and when I  believed it should happen. God’s dream for us is not really about us. It’s about what He wants to accomplish through us. We become the messenger but the Message is still Himself. God wanted to take me through a few years of humbling me, changing my perspective, and getting me to the point where I laid down my desires and wanted His instead. 

God’s way and God’s timing are always going to be so much better than ours because He is the God who is able to do “immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). 

Will you trust the timing of the One who can do all things? Many times it’s more important to God what we become in the process of trying to accomplish something than what we actually accomplish. It’s ironic that while we get frustrated when we feel we can’t accomplish a certain work, that’s when God can accomplish His intended work in us. 

What can you do while you’re waiting for God to bring about your dream?

  1. Allow God into your plan. Proverbs 16:9 says “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” God is ultimately going to do what He desires with your life, so when you willingly take your plans to Him you are surrendering and showing Him you’re on board. Since you can’t resist Him, join Him. 🙂

2. Accept what might look like “Plan B.” Sometimes God throws a wrench in the process. But often having to pick up with what you think is your “Plan B”  is really following God’s “Plan A.”  There were several times in my life when I became frustrated that my plan wasn’t working and I had to resort to “Plan B.” But, looking back now, it was through the “Plan Bs” that I met my husband, that we had our first daughter, and that my first book was eventually published.  Had I insisted on my timing in all those situations, I would’ve missed incredible blessings that God had intended for me. The inevitable “Plan B” is often  really God’s “Plan A” for our lives.  

3.    Anticipate the beauty of what God is doing.  In Psalm 40:1-3, King David sang about waiting patiently for the Lord. The result was that he was not only lifted out of his pit, set upon a rock, and given a firm place to stand, but God “put a new song” in his mouth. David anticipated that many would see and fear and “put their trust in the Lord”  as a result of his testimony of having to wait. God just may be waiting to bring about something in your life so that others will put their trust in Him as a result of your testimony of waiting. So don’t fear the bigger and better reasons God has for doing things His way. 

For more on this topic of following God’s timing in pursuing your dream, see my books, When a Woman Discovers Her Dream and Women on the Edge, both on sale now in my website store. 

September 1, 2020
6 Comments
Cindi
Cindi McMenamin is an award-winning author and national speaker who helps women find strength for the soul. She has nearly 35 years experience ministering to women and inspiring them to let God meet their emotional needs, grow stronger through their alone times, and pursue their dreams with boldness.
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6 Comments

on Does it feel like God is delaying your dream?.
  1. Linda Harrison
    September 2, 2020 @ 4:12 pm
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    Reply

    Hi Cindi,
    Reading this today opened my eyes some. I am 76 and a widow. I had an eye stroke 2 years ago in the middle of the night. I still can not see out of my right eye. It has taken alot of my independence away.
    I have shots in my eye often. I had cataract and glaucoma surgery In July. I want to see again so bad.
    I am trying hard to let God be God but complain to Him often. I have had breast cancer years ago but
    this is the hardest thing to handle. I am not doing real well with this. I am sure the virus has some to
    do with it. Please I need some encouragement or something.
    Thanks, Linda from Va. Beach, VA – Sept. 2, 2020
    I am on your email list also

    • Cindi
      September 2, 2020 @ 4:46 pm
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      Reply

      I am so sorry, Linda, to hear about what you are dealing with. I understand the questions can be overwhelming, at times. Yet, this did not take God by surprise. I know for certain that nothing touches us that doesn’t first pass through His loving hands. I am also convinced, by now, that when He withholds something from us it is often for a good that we might not see this side of heaven. Keep trusting Him, my friend. Your servant heart to say “I am yours, Lord, for whatever You have in mind” pleases His heart and He will receive the glory from this, even though you might not be able to imagine how. My books, When God Sees Your Tears or even When Women Walk Alone (if you haven’t yet read that one) would be very encouraging to you at this time. If you order one or both from my website store, I’ll be sure to include an extra gift in there for you and personalize those books for your encouragement. If reading is difficult right now, I do have some video clips on my website that you might find encouraging during this season of your life. Stay encouraged in Him. He is the Answer in the midst of this confusion. He is our light in any type of darkness. I’ll be praying for you, my friend. (Thanks for being a longtime reader of mine. I do recognize your name.)

  2. Linda Harrison
    September 2, 2020 @ 5:41 pm
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    Reply

    Cindi, thanks for replying so quickly. I have known the Lord all my life and still am struggling now to listen to Him. I will look for your videos. Thanks for praying for me. Linda

  3. Chery
    October 11, 2020 @ 4:18 pm
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    Reply

    As usual Cindi, a great post! I’m glad you talked about quoting scripture and knowing what comes before and after it. I learned this one the hard way :/…a good reminder! Number 2, such valuable wisdom, my “Plan B” being God’s “Plan A”. Thank you!

  4. Jane Ofunne-Ihejirika
    October 28, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
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    Reply

    Oh Cindi! It’s as if you read my mind and what a timely message! This is just a picture of my present situation. So much in a hurry to publish my first book, I realised God wanted my desire to align with His. Ironically, the book is on waiting and it’s as if I haven’t had enough experience VB or I need to live out more of my subject. God is perfect in His timing. I am have republished but waiting to print. Glad to hear from God through you.

    • Cindi
      October 28, 2020 @ 5:41 pm
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      Reply

      I’m glad this ministered to you at just the right time, Jane. Blessings as you wait upon His perfect timing.

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