I’ve been reading this book for the last several weeks. You’ve probably heard of it. It’s by a pastor who is fairly well known, Pastor Michael Todd. The name of the book is called Relationships Goals: How To Win In Dating, Sex and Marriage. Now, just so we’re clear–I am not doing or involved in any of the above 3…yet.
Despite what others may assume, my focus wasn’t necessarily on these three areas, but more so because I am really working on improving all of my relationships in this season and trying to become a better me. If I am completely honest, I often roll my eyes these days when I read or hear anything related to relationships, hence how this blog came about, lol.
It also wasn’t out of frustration about relationships in general, or the fact that I haven’t been in one for over 10 years. It’s more so because of the fact that when people think of relationships, myself included, we tend to automatically think about romantic relationships exclusively. Those who are single constantly wonder why they are still single and are tired of waiting, are frustrated, anxious, lonely and the list goes on and on. They feel as if they are waiting on something/someone that may never come, or dare I say, doesn’t exist.
When we get to this point, there is a real chance we will enter a danger zone: the danger of impatience. It’s what can happen when we’ve been waiting on God for something–a promise He has given us perhaps 10 days, 10 months or 10 years ago. It’s also a real possibility when we’ve heard what God said or spoke to us, but we don’t yet see what He spoke to us.
I really began to ponder this more when I read the most recent chapters of the book for our small group at my church. You see, we’ve often heard the story of Isaac and Ishmael in the book of Genesis as the promise vs the counterfeit or the promise vs the substitute. Pastor Mike, however, comes from a different angle and got me thinking about the danger of impatience, how it affects our decisions and the impact those decisions can have on many.
Let’s revisit a very familiar story of our father of faith, Father Abraham, who also entered the danger zone of impatience and as a result, we are still seeing and experiencing the riveting effects of it today. To sum up the story, Abraham was given a promise by God of a son/heir, the means by which would make him the father of many nations (Genesis 15:4). The only caveat…his wife, Sarah, was barren and they were old, like ancient of days old! Fast forward, several years later, with no son in sight or even the hope of a son, Sarah gets this grand idea to give over her maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham to sleep with him so that they can help God out with speeding up the process of this promise. Bad idea y’all! Out of this coming together, and truly because of impatience, Ishmael was born. Although, God blessed Ishmael and his mother, there was a lot of drama that ensued from this and others were hurt. (Y’all go read the Bible! It’s better than any reality TV show and filled with so many lessons for life.)
Here’s the thing: because of Abraham and Sarah’s impatience, not only were others hurt, but they still had to wait for God’s promise. That one decision, which produced Ishmael, is what eventually gave birth to the Islamic faith and to a lot of the turmoil we now see happening in the Middle East today. Ishmael is seen as the father or patriarch of Islam.
The danger of impatience doesn’t just affect your life, but can have reverberating effects in the life of others around you as well as those generations that come behind you, long after you are gone.
Consider what you may be waiting on right now. Have you grown impatient? Are you tired of waiting? Don’t allow it to lead you into the danger zone of impatience. That one decision you make as a result of being in this place could impact your family, friends, your children, your children’s children and your great-grandchildren.
Remember that what God has said, even if you don’t see it yet, will happen. His Word does not return back to Him void (Isaiah 55:11)! Instead, trust Him to show you how to wait well and not fall privy to the dangers of impatience.
Genesis 2:22, NLT
Scripture references: The Holy Bible (NLT)
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Lady In Waiting 222 
Loved this Sis!
On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 3:30 AM Lady In Waiting 222 wrote:
> ladyinwaiting222 posted: ” I’ve been reading this book for the last > several weeks. You’ve probably heard of it. It’s by a pastor who is fairly > well known, Pastor Michael Todd. The name of the book is called > Relationships Goals: How To Win In Dating, Sex and Marriage. Now, just so ” >
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Awwww thanks sis and thanks for reading!
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