The Bible says in Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” This scripture demonstrates that life is about periods of time.
There will all the time be periods of waiting in a person’s life. As long as there is day and night, seedtime and harvest, men will have to; at definite periods in their life go through periods of waiting. It is an definite fact of life that cannot be bypassed no matter how easy or painful the duration may be.
In this ‘microwave’ society where all can happen so speedily it is hard for the majority of people to wait for very long for anything. Even amongst Christians, despite the hope we have in Christ, waiting can and is carefully to be a chore, a duration a person would rather not have to go through.
Nonetheless it is definite that there has to be a duration of waiting just as there are hours in a day and seasons in a year.
To wait means to stay or rest in anticipation to stop or remain stationary till the advent of some person or event; to rest in patience, to stay, not to depart (Webster Dictionary).
Waiting – for a particular person does not take on some of the definite attributes of the definition. no ifs ands or buts it can be one of the hardest tests of their faith in God because the waiting duration can appear as if nothing will ever convert in the situation.
At such a time, a battle begins within their mind as to either they will ever get out of the waiting season they are in.
During this duration the enemy will plant into their mind all kinds of suggestions. Often production them feel their situation is a extra case and that no one along with their Lord can help them.
With such an onslaught of negative images, thoughts and beliefs bombarding their mind, the enemy of their soul can make them believe delay is denial. However, the devil is a liar. This is a lie from the pit of hell!
Your character also emerges in its plentifulness while the waiting period. It does not take long for people to know who ‘you’ are when there is a delay in your life. Your conduct, manner and speech will present effectively who you are.
The waiting duration can bring out the worst in people’s character.
Bitterness, anger, resentment, depression are some traits which can no ifs ands or buts be caress by the ‘waiting person’.
The level of a person’s spiritual maturity and attitudes to life come to be descriptive while this season. Scriptures such as Job 14:14, Isaiah 30:18, Isaiah 40:31 are meaningless to a spiritually low, battle weary ‘waiting’ Christian.
Let’s look for a few moments, from a particular person’s perspective at some of the reasons why they may have to wait for a marriage partner.
1. To be in the excellent will of God
There is a constant struggle in the mind of the Christian as to either they are walking in the excellent will of God or not. If His excellent will, and His proper will is what a particular desire, waiting for the right person is implicit. You may have to wait a long duration of time for God’s will to enter your life or no ifs ands or buts for you to recognise God’s will.
2. You are ‘just not ready’
Acknowledging that you are not ready for a relationship is not something a particular person would no ifs ands or buts wish to admit to themselves or others. Nonetheless this is a fact. Some singles are not ready for what marriage entails. They may believe they are spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically ready, however, the ever expanding disunion rate among Christians demonstrate the opposite. Marriage and good relationships are for adults who are accumulate in themselves and mature in dealing with the affairs of life.
A waiting duration for this class of particular may be self imposed or imposed by a relative e.g. Parent, older sibling, or by person who has spiritual oversight over the particular person.
3. God has not given the green light
The spiritually mature particular person understands that at definite periods of their life God may not give them a release in their spirit to enter into what they desire. If God does not give a green light – an indication for you to proceed, it is best to wait until your convert comes!
If a man dies, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time
will I wait, till my convert come
Job 14:14 (Kjv)
This is to avoid potential disasters later.
4. Parental Opposition
Parents who do not give their consent to a marriage can cause delay and a stressful waiting duration of any offspring wanting to enter into a marital relationship.
5. Careless Vows
Vows made when younger or carelessly because of hurt, seminar or a negative belief can lead to a delay in you having your desired relationship. Until the vow is broken in the spirit through prayer delay is inevitable. It is added prolonged when it is not recognised as a potential cause for delay because you do not realise the baggage you are carrying and fighting with is related to the vow.
6. You are not properly healed
If a particular person who has had a bad caress or has been hurt from a relationship, one of two things can happen to them when they think of an additional one relationship. They can either enter an additional one relationship very speedily on the rebound or avoid relationship like a plague. Aversion to entering into an additional one relationship can cause many a wasted year. Waiting to be healed can be a long but principal process.
7. Compromise
Lastly when a particular person compromises, delay can occur because the relationship is not being conducted God’s way. Contrary to beloved belief compromising does not lead to a persisting relationship. Tasting the fruit or chance the gift before the accepted time – God’s time – can lead to long-term relationship without commitment. When such a relationship breaks down, it can be extremely painful as the person considers the wasted years.
There are many other reasons for delay or having to wait for a marriage partner which cannot be covered in this article. However, one foremost truth is that delay is not denial. God is faithful. Irrespective of the surmise and the cause for delay, God is able to turn the situation around. However, this is dependent on God’s timing.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8 (Kjv)
If you stand on His promises God is able to breakthrough for you. However, because He loves man so much He is able to support the best for us until the accepted time where His glory can be seen in your life. no ifs ands or buts all eyes will see and all ears hear the wonder He has done in your life.