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In case you haven’t noticed, things tend to take time. Especially good things. They need to develop, grow, prosper, and come together at the right time, in the right way. Timing is everything. When you’re driving and there’s a yellow light, you’re 100 feet away, but going 45 miles per hour. Can you stop safely in time? You have a friend that things are rough with right now. Do you think it’d be a good idea to take some time off? Or do you take the impatient route and quit the friendship altogether? Good things take time, and patience pays off. It’s better to take time with things so that they may be done correctly, instead of rushing them and ruining things. Just like how I tried to rush the relationship God has given me. That didn’t help it, at all. It’s one of those things that takes time. We have to get to know each other, we can’t just jump into something as serious as that. God is not constrained by the grips of “time”. In fact, time doesn’t really exist to God at all. He exists in the past, present, and future, all at the same time. Meaning God is not surprised by anything that happens. He’s already there. And for me, that is very comforting. If something happens, it's nice to know He's right there to hold me as it's happening. God's timing on things is almost always not the same time as when we want something to happen. I wanted a relationship right away. I wanted to grow up quickly, not realizing all the things that come with adulthood. I wanted so many things at so many different times. And God's timing is just different from my timing. His timing is perfect, His timing is well thought out, His timing makes sense. I feel like through my dog Harley, God has also taught me something about timing. Long story short, it's worth it to wait to receive things at the correct time rather than getting them too soon. I love dogs, but I knew I shouldn't get one, because I wasn't in a good place to do so. So when I got him, I was able to learn from God, “this is what happens when you get things at the wrong time.” It hurts you, and the other person involved. I was not ready for a relationship a year ago, but I begged for it. If I would've gotten it at that time, it would probably be over by now. It wouldn't have worked. But God, has a much better plan in mind than I do. Waiting on God may not seem exciting, and the process feels like a thousand years, but it is so well worth it. And it is so much more beautiful God's way! Things happening slowly are so much prettier than rushing into something and causing a huge mess. There are also times when things happen and we are not able to understand so easily. Sure, it makes sense to wait for something, but what do you do when something unexpected happens? You’ve probably noticed I usually mean someone has died, and you are correct. When I moved back here, I did my second half of 8th grade at middle school. I hadn’t seen most of those kids since 5th grade, and on top of that, a lot of them moved or switched schools. So when I started middle school here, I didn’t really know anybody but maybe 1 or 2 people. At least enough to have an actual conversation. I had gym class, and I met Tiffany and Chanel. They were hilarious, always doing goofy, funny things, always smiling, making stupid jokes and making me laugh constantly. We were all stupid together. We were the two musketeers, because Chanel said that since Tiffany and I were both only half black we only made up one musketeer, even though yes, technically, there were three of us. I had gotten so used to my church up north that when I moved here, I resented the church I had grown up in. It felt so far from me, and it didn’t feel like a family any more. I felt like I was forced to go there, and I was just miserable. I wanted to go back to Illinois, and the comfort of my old church. But that’s not where God wanted me. Moving along, my mother and a few other people really urged me to go to youth group. I didn’t want to go, at all. I, at the very least, did not want to go alone. I did go with my friend Angelica, and that was nice, but I was just so upset that it wasn’t my youth group from my church in Illinois. I didn’t know anyone. I was sad, lonely, angry, and incredibly distant and just unwilling to be there. But then I had a conversation with Tiffany, and she expressed similar feelings. She, too, wanted to go to youth group, but did not want to go alone. So we thought, hey, let’s go together! This was at the end of 8th grade, and I forgot about youth group for a little while. I finally got around to messaging Tiffany, asking if she would go to youth group with me. She replied, (paraphrasing here) “Oh yeah! We could next week, I’m going up to Tennessee this weekend, but we can go after I get back!” I said okay and it was a plan. Tiffany did not come home that weekend, nor the week after, or ever again. She died. I hadn’t lost a friend that way ever in my life, and I remember crying so hard in my room that my mother came running. My best friend had called me and told me the news, and my world just crashed. Tiffany, was dead? Gone? I couldn’t understand. I didn’t get the concept. But, God, I pleaded, we were going to go to youth group! I was about to make a new life long friend! I was going to go on crazy musketeer adventures with Tiffany and Chanel! It didn’t happen, and God didn’t tell me why. And I was sad, and I was angry, confused, to say the least. It was a lot at 14, in the middle of adjusting to moving, trying to get back into church, finally making friends, only for them to die. It didn’t make sense. But God was not surprised. He knew this would happen, and He was going to do something good with this situation. I couldn’t really see the good at the time of course, but over the past few years, I have seen a few blessings in my own life, in the form of Tiffany’s family. They have been amazing to me, loving me so much, and pushing me closer and closer to God. They’ve sponsored me for summer camps, retreats, weekends, just all of these amazing experiences that have changed my life for the better each time, and have drawn me drastically closer to God, teaching me something new, giving me a new perspective. All of these happened exactly when they were supposed to happen. Because God exists across all lengths of time all at the same time, you can trust that He is doing something with what is going on currently in your life. Continue to seek Him in everything, and remember that He does know best. He knows exactly when the best time for things to happen, or not, are. He knows exactly how long you’ll have to wait, and why. Like Ms. Kadie told us, “Ask God, ‘What do you want me to learn in this?’” Everything happens for a reason, and there are no mistakes. Remember, God is a God of second chances. If you feel like you’ve messed up His purpose or plan, remember that what He says still stands. He gives a second chance, and will give you a clean slate. Not saying you should push God, but just letting you know it isn’t over, or hopeless, if you mess up. Like how I chased down the man God gave me, even though that’s not my job. God fixed that, and made it clean, because I admitted my mistake, and asked Him to please fix what I had done. And things are good and new now. Don’t ever doubt that God is using a situation, because He uses every second of every day to point us down the direction He has for us, the Will and way for us to go. He loves us genuinely, and absolutely insanely deeply, and He is always here. Also keep in mind, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) and, “Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
You are loved and God bless you! Thank you for reading, and I hope this helps you in some way! Melody (I did not proofread this, so ignore my mistakes. Thanks.)
2 Comments
Annette Davis
11/20/2016 06:51:17 am
Melody that was so beautifully written I didn't know so much had happened in your life, but God is good and on time he takes very good care of his children he's taken care of you, be bless today baby girl love you!
Reply
Catrina
12/20/2016 09:48:12 am
Absolutely beautiful..... remember to seek Him in ALL things... Tiffany would be proud!
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Melody C.God has given me the natural talent as a writer. I felt Him encourage me in the direction of using my natural skill in writing for Him, instead of investing in skills that were basically going to waste. I have been writing my whole life. I love to answer questions, give advice, and share experiences. I hope you enjoy it, and I pray that God speaks through me and to you. If there are ever any typos, please ignore them. They will be fixed as soon as I notice them. Archives
February 2019
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