More than likely, you’re waiting for something right now.
I am too.
The things we’re waiting for could be worlds apart, but that doesn’t matter as much as the fact that that we’re both still waiting.
And maybe you’ve been waiting a long time and are beginning to wonder if what you’re hoping for will ever arrive?
When I was waiting and praying for a husband for 15 years, the Lord taught me that He cares more about WHO I’m becoming in the waiting, than what I’m waiting for.
He wanted me to wait well.
He desired for me to “dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”
And He wants the same for you, too.
I read a couple books near the end of last year about dreams and saying ‘yes’ to God. In one of them, the author talked about the dreams we have for our future. The things we’re waiting for, which may be a job, a spouse, a raise, a new car, a child, going to college, graduating from college, etc… we all have dreams that we are waiting to materialize.
And waiting feels like it’s taking a long time and there’s lots of work to do in the waiting. But sometimes we need to stop focusing on what we’re waiting for and just look around.
When we pause and look around our lives with gratitude, we find that we’re already living in the land of answered prayers.
We realize that many of the things we have now or jobs we do now were once things and jobs we prayed for years ago.
The life you have now may be the a result of the prayers that you prayed years and decades before. Perhaps you didn’t get what I prayed for right away then, but you have it now.
I realized that this was the case for me. And when I realize all that God has already done for me, it inspires gratitude and thanksgiving.
I prayed for a godly husband for 15 years and just last Sunday we celebrated three years of marriage.
For years I’d dreamt of owning a house and hosting people. It felt impossible, but in August 2021, God provided a beautiful home for us.
I carried the desire to be a foster mom for 12 years, praying and holding tightly in my heart. In September of 2022 my husband and I became licensed foster parents.
For years I’d prayed for a community that would sit in the presence of Jesus with me, to pray and worship at His feet. My husband and I now attend and serve at amazing local church full of people who are hungry for more of Jesus.
This life I’m living now is a result of the prayers I’d prayed before.
Even writing this blog post today is an answer to pray. I have always wanted to serve the Lord in ministry since He called me to full time ministry in junior high. Now I am serving Him daily through the ministry He has given me. This blog, my social media channels, the women I disciple, the bible studies I write; these are all part of my ministry to Him.
He is so faithful.
I am living in the land of answered prayers.
And chances are you are too.
Though there may be many unanswered prayers in your life, and many things you are still waiting on, I bet there have been some answered prayers too. When’s the last time you pressed pause?
I encourage you, sit for a few moments with a pen and some paper and record the things you have that you are grateful for. Did you desire these things years before and ask God for them?
Gratitude is a powerful thing. It changes our attitude from a “poor me” mentality, to an attitude of hope.
Thankfulness and gratitude help us realize all the good things around us.
You may not have all we desire yet. There may be many good things that you are still waiting for. But, an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness for what God has already done in your life and what He has already given to you will inspire hope and faith that He will continue to give you good things.
James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no changing or shadow of turning.”
Our Father in heaven is very good, and He delights to give us good gifts.
What gifts have you asked for and already received?
Record them – or read through the record you’ve already made.
On this journey of life, with all the things we hope and pray for, don’t forget that today, you’re already living in the land of answered prayers.
If you need to be reminded of this truth today, sit quietly with the Lord and ask Him to bring to mind the things He’s already done for you. List them one by one, and thank Him for each blessing in turn.
Sarah Louise 