If you’re
someone who lives in America, you are probably part of the majority that, on occasion,
scraps the idea of having a balanced meal and opts for a quick drive-thru
dinner. Maybe you’re a student who was assigned to read a book that seems to be
just a tad too long, and you decide to look it up on “sparknotes” instead. Or
perhaps you are guilty of the shortcut cleaning method, and tend to “clean” by
putting your mess in a place that isn’t visible. Although all these habits may
be relatively harmless, they all share a common theme: they are shortcuts.
Shortcuts are quick, easy, and effective. They usually get the job done, and on
the surface they seem perfectly sufficient. However, when we begin to look
deeper into the consequences of settling, it becomes clear that our needs are not being completely satisfied, we are not getting what was meant for that
experience out of it, or we are not really accomplishing anything. Although a
McDouble once in a while won’t kill you, living a lifestyle with the attitude
of settling becomes a deterrent to our future. When we choose to opt for less
than God has planned for us, we are not only losing moments; but sacrificing His
plans.
Something that’s difficult to understand is the fact that
God’s plans are, in fact, better than we know. It would be really awesome if we
could just get a map with the play-by-play of everything God has planned for
us. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Whether you are waiting for the
perfect job, the ideal husband/wife, a breakthrough moment, or simply happiness;
we all have desires we long to be fulfilled. However, our personal desires are not always what we need. I can remember
hearing this statement in church time after time, and just getting irritated. I
would often think, “If God wants me to happy, then why can’t I just be happy?”
As I have grown older, I have found that often times, the things I thought
would satisfy me in my moments of emptiness were not necessarily the right things. Sure, they would probably
make me happy—but they weren’t what I really needed. As frustrating as it can
be to wait on our greatest desires, we must remember that God promises to
satisfy our needs, and He knows what is best for us.
For I know the
plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
So, maybe you know this already. What about our desires
though? Does God care about that? And are we just supposed to wait for this to
all play out? Something I’m still learning is to trust that God knows my heart;
He has given me desires, and He is
working. In the meantime, I am not meant to be left with a sense of emptiness
or distress. Rather, as I surrender my trust to Him, He brings fullness to my
life. As stated in Psalm 16:11, “You (God) make(s) known to me the path of
life; in your (His) presence there is fullness of joy; at your (His)right hand
are pleasures forevermore. So what often appears as God leaving us
hanging, is really just a challenge to us to trust Him.
If you feel like you are in a place where settling seems like
the best/only option, I encourage you to try and loosen the reins of your
control. Although there are so many times it would be easier to just take a “shortcut”
or alternate route, trusting God to take us through these times is a choice of
great reward.
Until next time,
-Tamara