It’s estimated the average person spends five years waiting in lines and queues (six months waiting at traffic lights). These statistics don’t include waiting for other things. Imagine how much time we spend waiting for our prayers to be answered and promise fulfillment. Have you ever waited for something so long, you lost hope? I admit I’m not a fan of having to wait. Circumstances coupled with the passage of time tests my patience and gnaws away at my faith. I begin to doubt God’s promise and His ability to do what He said. I don’t know about you but I’ve got some really big things I’ve been waiting a long time for God to do for me.
I’ve come to realize there’s an inherent waiting period associated with God’s promises. To wait means to “stay in place in expectation of.” We’re to wait in anticipation and expectation that God will move on our behalf. It’s during the wait that God doesn’t just prepare the blessings for His children; He prepares His children for their blessings. The wait is attached to something in the future. How you wait influences the length of the wait. Like a wise parent, God knows we’re not capable of handling a blessing when we first ask for it. He uses the space between promise and provision to prepare us for manifestation.
God operates through process, and process takes time. God refines us in the process. Mature blessings demand maturity. Your waiting has not been in vain. The wait wasn’t meant to punish you, although it can feel like punishment, but rather to mature you. The longer the wait, the bigger the blessing.
When you plant marigold seeds, sprouts appear in five to seven days. Although the seeds produce fast results, the flowers only last a single season. But when you plant an acorn, it takes decades to mature into a mighty oak tree. The oak tree survives season after season, through storms and other adverse conditions. The oak tree is one of great substance. It provides shade and protection, a home and food for animals, and wood for furniture, etc. God doesn’t want you to have short-lived marigold blessings. He’s got oak tree blessings stored up for you. Not only do oak tree blessings last, they’re meant to be shared with others.
The man by the Pool of Bethesda had been waiting thirty-eight years for healing. That’s a long time to wait. John 5:6 says, “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, wilt thou be made whole?” Jesus asked the man a strange question, “Wilt thou be made whole?” Jesus could have just healed the man but what good would it do to receive a blessing and not be made whole so you can enjoy it? Wholeness is needed because receiving the blessing is the easy part. Sustaining the blessing is the hard part. If you’ve ever lost weight you know losing weight is the easy part. Maintaining the weight loss is what’s difficult. Jesus knew the man’s belief system kept him bound. Wholeness would enable him to enjoy the abundant life God planned for him. We need wholeness for all God has planned for us for this year and years to come.
Now that we’ve landed on the shores of 2018, I believe we’ve entered into a phenomenal season where God is going to answer long-awaited righteous desires, dreams and prayers. Do you want all God has in store for you in 2018? God wants to bless you greater than you believe Him for. Jesus is asking you the same question He asked the man at the Pool of Bethesda. Do you want to be made whole? The wait is over. It’s time for you to do what it takes to be made whole.
Until next time…Be blessed!
Reverend Cynthia Jackson
Rhema Inspirations
Rev. Cynthia Jackson is the administrator of the Rhema4U Blog and Innovations Ministries Director. Rev. Jackson is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was licensed and ordained under the tutelage of Bishop David G. Evans. She is an associate minister at Bethany Baptist Church located in Lindenwold, New Jersey. Rev. Jackson founded Innovations Ministries in 2001. Innovations Ministries provides dynamic and innovative programs and services for individuals and families dealing with various health-related issues. She is a gifted teacher, preacher, conference speaker and writer. God has anointed Rev. Jackson to be a spiritual midwife with a passion to empower others to birth God's vision for their lives. Rev. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Management from Eastern University, a Master of Science Degree in Health Administration from Saint Joseph's University and a Master of Science Degree in Christian Counseling from Cairn University.
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