I had a hard time DETACHING from the outcome

Posted by admin in Blog (Weekly), Blogs

Feb
15

The first time I remember hearing God’s voice guiding me was on the day I bought my God- blouse thirty-five years ago. This is a part of the chapter from my book, “Simply a Woman of Faith.”

“I had some time to kill as I waited to pick up the children from school. I spotted the clearance sale sign in the back of the store and quickly walked over to the clothing rack. I had no intention of buying anything, but the blouse jumped out at me. Wow, it’s only ten dollars, I thought to myself. I wanted to forget that my husband was out of work and I couldn’t afford it. As I reluctantly placed it back on the rack, I heard that small, still voice of God say: BUY IT AND I WILL PROVIDE

I pulled out my wallet to see how much money I had in it. I had a ten dollar bill tucked away in the billfold. I wanted to believe it was God, but could I trust myself? In the past, miracles happened when I listened to God. I prayed quietly to myself and listened. My gut was saying – trust God and buy the blouse.

I picked up the children from school and drove directly home. I grabbed the mail from the mailbox as I walked in the house. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the crisp new ten-dollar bill tucked inside the note card. As I read the simple, but profound message written in the card, I started to tremble from head to foot. Oh my God, I shouted as the tears streamed down my cheeks. I frantically searched for a name, but there was no name anywhere. Sprawled across the handwritten note was simply, To Pat, From the Son of a Carpenter God provides, but I didn’t expect it so dramatically and so quickly. I still don’t know who sent the card and money – and probably never will.”

In the story above, I heard the small, still voice of God and followed instructions and almost immediately experienced the miracle of trusting the voice within. I wish it was always that easy and quick.

I said to Larry on Saturday morning, “I am frustrated because I have NOTHING to write about in the blog.” By the time we were done talking and sharing, I had SOMETHING to write about. God is faithful. Here is what happened:

I followed through on several instructions from Holy Spirit this week. Unlike what happened when God provided the money almost instantly for the blouse after I listened, I had a very different experience and opportunity to grow from. I thought I wasn’t attached to the outcome of what I was instructed to do, but I was because I woke up feeling irritable and frustrated.

Spirit showed me my impatience and not trusting in God’s timing. When we don’t see the results immediately or have to wait a long time for what we want and what we think God wants for us, we get discouraged and begin to doubt if we really heard the voice of Spirit in the first place. Has this ever happened to you?

This is the message I heard from the Holy Spirit this morning as I journaled:

“You heard my voice and followed my instructions. That does not mean instant results like you hoped for. Do not doubt my voice and what I instructed you to do. You are not responsible for other people’s actions and their timing. Your job is to listen and hear my voice and then proceed as instructed. My job is to work in people’s hearts. Your ego would like you to doubt yourself and feel discouraged and disappointed. You must let go of what you think is right or wrong. There is no right or wrong, it is all planned in my mind. Be patient with yourself as you learn and practice hearing my voice. I am patient with you and lovingly look upon you. I see your motives and your desire to love and serve, but you must trust my ways and timing.”

It is not easy to DETACH FROM THE OUTCOME when you think you are following the Holy Spirit’s instructions. We want what we want when we want it. I often don’t like to wait on God’s perfect timing. Perhaps this is my control issues rearing its head.

Most of us want instant answers. Sometimes we get them, but often we have to wait. Learning to trust God’s timing is not easy business. Learning to accept that everything is in perfect divine order is what keeps me in peace.

Here is a quote from 12 steps of AA “Acceptance is the answer to all of my prayers. If I cannot accept people, places and things as exactly as they are, I will not have peace.”

Is there an area in your life where you need to DETACH FROM THE OUTCOME and trust in God’s diving timing?