Written by Abby Caymol | Feb 26, 2024

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” –John 13:7

JESUS KNOWS BEST

How do I begin?

When it comes to waiting, I have already mastered the art of it.

There were times when I continuously asked God why I couldn’t let go of the thoughts that made me hopeful every time I thought of them.

With all my heart, I knew that God had removed me from certain people and situations that He had kept from my past.

I asked and prayed for it; sure enough, God has listened.

I am trying to understand why certain things from the past keep returning.

I asked God if it was not from Him; I wanted to be free to forget it. 

But it still lingers.

Jesus always planted His word in my heart, saying, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but later you will.”

Each day, I was constantly reminded of the past events I couldn’t let go of, but the Lord placed it in my heart to pray for them- not the past events but the people from them.

When God tells us to wait and see, how should we interpret it?

It’s important to understand that confusion and incomprehension have different meanings. When things are unclear and created out of confusion, it’s not from the Lord. Jesus gave us life so that we could be free from doubt.

Jesus said we won’t understand His actions now, but we will later.

We may feel like God is not responding to our requests when we pray for something. However, this is simply a time to wait, pray, and trust His work.

We must be mindful that our desires and thoughts can be influenced by both God and the enemy.

If something is taking your heart away from the throne of God, it is not from Him.

Jesus doesn’t instill doubt but trust as we wait for His will to be revealed in time.

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. –Psalm 37:4

JOY IN THE LORD

I used to wonder why some things, like relationships, didn’t work out even when I wanted them to, and sometimes I would even ask God for answers.

God can give us insights into why certain things may not work out. Perhaps it is because we are too attached to worldly standards and cannot see the bigger picture. God can see events in the future that may pull us away from Him. However, I am confident that if we make God our source of joy, He will guide us to the right people and places.

Sometimes, our desires may not align with God’s plan for us. Miracles from God are not manifested in the flesh but are fueled by a fulfilling purpose.

We can make all our requests, but if God doesn’t allow them, do we blame Him?

The joy that we feel, the heart’s desire, comes from the strength we receive from the Lord (Psalm 28:7), but we may not be aware of it.

When God is the foundation of your joy, any desire He places in your heart will bring you great pleasure.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. –Nehemiah 8:10b

 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. –‭Psalms 91:14-15

GOD’S PROTECTION

When I pray, I ask God for protection. I remember a long time ago; I asked God to protect me from any situation or people that would lead me away from Him. As a result, some people left my life, including a close friendship that ended abruptly, and others moved away to a far distance.

I was hurt.

Afterward, I asked God why certain situations did not happen, and then, the Holy Spirit reminded me of my prayer for protection.

You see, sometimes, answers from God may require waiting, while others may have a clear and definite ending.

How can we differentiate between a ‘no’ and a ‘wait’ from God?

Let’s revisit what Jesus said in John 13:7. Though we don’t understand what Jesus is doing now, we will understand later.

We will never know if God allows something to happen until we surrender our hearts to Him completely.

When we have questions about the Lord, and it is unclear what answer He has, God wants us to obey Him by not chasing situations and people He removed from our lives.

Self-discipline is essential in avoiding the troubles and temptations the enemy sets for us.

God has a good reason for guarding your heart. Although it may hurt and leave you with questions, Jesus promised we would understand and know the answers with time.

When we patiently wait upon the Lord and trust His ways, we will witness His hands at work in our lives and those we have been praying for. Although we may not perceive it, the Lord works behind the scenes on our behalf. When we call upon Him in faith, He will answer our prayers.

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away. –‭Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV‬

GOD’S TIMELINE

There are things I need to learn about, especially when it comes to time.

I have learned not to pursue happiness that’s not aligned with God’s heart.

Without God’s permission, my thoughts can lead to trouble and failure by forcing events out of his control.

My plans give me hope, but I am still uncertain.

Sometimes, I hesitate to ask God for something because I fear it might not align with His plans for me. However, most of the time, I believe that God already knows the desires of my heart, even if I don’t ask Him directly. I trust that if my desires align with His plans, He will provide them for me.

The clock keeps ticking; it doesn’t turn back time, only moves forward.

Every thought that passes can either benefit you or break you.

Don’t give up searching for answers even if God seems quiet.

At this point, I am still searching for God’s direction, and my heart is seeking answers to questions I am afraid to ask.

I have enough time to search but am unwilling to give up.

“When God says no,” it is up to you to accept or resent it. Remember, the choice is yours.

There is a blessing in every ‘no.’

To find contentment in the joy of the Lord, follow His timing, abide in Him, dwell in His protective shelter, and trust Jesus, for He knows what’s best.