Maybe it's a goal that now seems out of reach, or maybe it's a failure you now are desperate to rectify, or maybe it's a move or new relationship you believe to be in your best interest...you want to help God out by taking control and making it happen. The counsel for such impulses is...wait. When we take the impulsive initiative to fix or rectify a situation we will miss a sanctifying lesson and bring with it suffering to ourselves and to others we touch. When we feel the impulse to “fix” huge emotional or relational issues, it's time to wait on God's providential, sovereign working and learn to trust in His wise plan. God counsels us:

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts. And then each one's praise will come to him from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Today's My Utmost for His Highest gives some insight on this issue:

“There are times when you can't understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don't fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.

At first you may see clearly what God's will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God's will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God's timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.”

Taking this approach to many of our quandaries of life is very hard for us. We don't want to take a Pollyanna approach to life saying, “let go and let God,” but we have to learn to be trusting in God's providential and sovereign purposes and learn to wait upon His plan to unfold. To this end I pray for you and me this day...Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised. Help us to have such trust in Your working in our lives that we are surprised by joy when we give over to You control of our lives. Our confidence and trust is in You. Amen

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.