It’s hard to watch others receive the blessings we’ve been praying for ourselves. And we’re tempted to blame others, or even ourselves, when the desires of our heart are kept from us. But times and seasons belong to God, and the deep desires of our heart will be born in his timing, not ours.
Rachel was married to Jacob a week after he married her sister Leah. While Jacob loved Rachel more, God allowed Leah to have children while he kept Rachel from conceiving. In time, Rachel became jealous and pleaded with Jacob for children. Jacob became angry at this implication – stating he was not God and that it was God who was keeping her from having children. Eventually, God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.
While the particulars vary, Rachel’s plight is often ours as well. God has placed deep desires in our hearts but has not yet opened the door for them to be fulfilled. Meanwhile, we might see the blessings of others in the very area of our desires. For instance, they might have successful careers, a loving wife and children, a beautiful house, or the like while we’re still waiting.
What we want is true and good and we’ve not been lacking in our prayers. And yet we must watch others enjoy the desires of our heart. With Rachel, it’s easy to grow jealous and cast blame. Perhaps we even blame ourselves for not being good enough. But, as Jacob said, God is God and we are not.
God has has reasons for when he pours out blessings. Each has his own story. And we must trust in his timing for ours. At just the right time our season will come – God will open the doors for us to fully realize the desires of our heart.
In the end, don’t lose heart when you see others enjoying the blessings you’re still waiting on yourself. God has not forgotten your plight and he will open doors at just the right time.
Photo by Wikimedia
.jpg){kind=link}