Several weeks ago, a reel came up on social media that quoted Habakkuk 2:2-3 and caught my attention. In this scripture, God states: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Translated into what we interpret for our lives today, in verse 2, God is telling us that our visions (our goals) need to be written down so that what is in our minds and what we envision may come to light. It will be done. He further says in verse 3 that although it may seem like it is never going to happen or is taking longer than one would hope, we should be patient…it will come in time. After seeing that reel and studying Habakkuk 2:2-3 a little further, I sat down one night and dusted off my old journal and started writing. I wrote down all the things that I had been wanting to accomplish in this life. I’m not talking resolutions either. Resolutions tend to come about because we come to the end of the year and decide to start breaking down all of our successes or failures for that year. Then we resolve to do better or try new things the following year. Let’s be honest…it’s January 21st and most of our resolutions have already been thrown out the window. What I’m talking about are actual goals and dreams for the future. Goals with purpose. So, I sat there and outlined in my journal a list of things I would like to see happen in the next one to two years. This list consisted of everything from goals for my career and other business aspirations, charitable goals, and even finally finishing my Bachelors in Psychology. Why should we physically write it all down, you ask? Well, you could just jot ideas down in the notes on your phone or tablet, but physically writing it down on paper not only gives you the opportunity to etch out your thoughts and timelines, but it is actually scientifically proven that handwriting notes can boost brain activity and creates stronger neural encoding. However you choose to write it down, it is important that you do because it helps to bring those thoughts into reality. It becomes more than just wishful thinking. In the same way that I talked before about writing down anything you’d want to say to someone that wronged you and then letting it go out into the universe in whatever way you may…this is essentially the same thing. You are sending those thoughts, ideas, hopes, and dreams out into the universe and manifesting the output. But is that enough?

Flash forward briefly to New Years Eve Sunday, where I was sitting in church and to my surprise, the pastor begins preaching on Habkkuk 2:2-3. He was discussing and asking what changes we think we need to make within ourselves and in the world around us in 2024. He went on to discuss how it is not enough to just dream big or pray hard, you must also think long. Meaning that you have to look at the future and also be ready to be patient while God puts your requests into motion. A reiteration of what verse 3 stated. What I enjoyed even more about his sermon was that he brought up some things that I just wrote about in my last post, “I Saw The Sign”. He discussed change being good and much needed. He mentioned how we all need to pray for patience and understanding for God’s plan and wait for God’s direction (signs) to lead us when the time is right. This seemed like reassurance that I was in fact on the right track with my current thought process and walk in life. Perhaps it was the sign that I had been praying for. It was definitely thought provoking nonetheless. More importantly, it was a reminder that everything I put down, needed to also go up. That is, up to God. Not only did I need to write it all down and truly believe in myself and my goals, but I needed to pray and ask God for His guidance and allowance of my goals. Ask Him to align my goals with his plan and purpose for me.

Growing up in church and even today online, you often hear or see certain versus that tell you that when you pray or ask God for things, believe and it will be yours. For instance, Mark 11:24 states: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”. Then you have James 1:6, which states: “But when you ask, you must believe and look not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” Although these versus are very inspirational messages and some of my favorites, I don’t believe that they are God promising to give us every little thing we ask for just because we ask for it and believe it is to be ours. However, at one time, that is exactly what I believed these verses meant. In fact, for years I carried a little card in my wallet that had Mark 11:24 on it. It was my reminder to believe in what I was asking for so I could receive it. Needless to say, I’ve been disappointed a lot. More times than I can count, I have prayed for things like reconnection in a broken or lost relationship, for better jobs, more income, and whatever else I wanted or thought I needed at the time. I was sure to believe in what I was praying for and did not waver just like the scripture said to. But in the end, I didn’t get every prayer answered. Not even close. And because I believed so strongly in my interpretation and what I was taught about these verses as a child in church, I often got angry with God and even allowed my faith to slip away when things didn’t turn out how I prayed for them to. It is only now through my journey of self-healing and growing my relationship with God, that I have come to learn that sometimes the answer to my prayers was actually God not answering them. What I also learned is that you can’t just look at a posted verse and take it at face value. Albeit very inspirational, you have to take that inspiration and the comfort that you feel when you read it and dive deeper into it in order to truly receive the message. It is inspirational for a reason, so why? Read what surrounds it so that you’ll have a better understanding of the verse and God’s word or promise. In verse 6, James is stating that we should not waver in what we are seeking. To have faith and pray with conviction and believe that we have received it. But in verse 5, he states that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should seek God who gives generously to all without finding fault. Then in 7 he goes on to elaborate about how wavering comes from an instability, and if you waiver in your faith (not what you seek), then you shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. Then in Mark 11:22, Jesus is speaking to his disciples about a fig tree he cursed and how it had now withered because of His faith in God. As an example of that event and faith, Jesus goes on to discuss believing in what you ask for or speak of, so that your faith may bring it to light. But then in 11:25, he instructs them that when they pray, they cannot hold anything against anyone. That they must forgive just as we have been forgiven. Basically, we cannot expect anything from God when we are not being how God intended us to be. So, I believe that both of these quoted and inspiring verses are actually discussing faith and are promises from God that through our faith in Him and our work in His name, we shall see his blessings. Not promises that we are going to get all we desire just because we ask and believe it shall be ours. If only it were that easy. As with anything in life, everything requires faith, dedication, and hard work to accomplish a goal.

Have you ever heard the saying: “if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans”? I don’t know that God truly looks down at us and laughs, but even he’s got to find humor in some of the stuff that we conjure up. We make all these plans for our lives and pray and pray that things just happen how and when we want them to. Then when they don’t, we whine and ask God why not. Well, God’s plan is so much bigger than ours and he had our purpose perfectly designed and planned out before we were ever conceived. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still pray, dream, set goals, or write it all down so that it can evolve into a reality. In fact, God told us in Habakkuk 2:2 that we should do exactly that. But when we do, we need to be praying and asking God how our goals can align with His plan for us, and then have patience as we wait to see how it comes to light. When your prayers are not being answered, don’t ask God why. Instead, ask yourself that. Is it because your prayers and goals are self-serving and not for the greater good? Or is it because it just isn’t the right time to see that particular thing come to light? As my pastor said, “don’t get stuck in the rat race challenging the plan”. Just because it’s not happening, doesn’t mean it will never happen. You may just need to adjust the vision. Or, you may need to give it more time to all come together. Or…maybe you need more time for God to show you why it isn’t the right goal for you at all. Often, we end up with something even better. After all, God’s plans for our lives are greater than we could ever imagine for ourselves. Be patient and have faith in what’s to come.

I for one am not anxious or worried anymore about what tomorrow will bring. I have faith that everything that has happened recently and even in the past, will all eventually be worth it when God’s plan for my life is revealed. Things that I wrote down in my journal and prayed about just several weeks ago, are already starting to evolve into reality. God is also doing things in my life right now that are quite confusing. Things that would typically have discouraged me and made me waiver in my faith. But I’ve finally learned to fully surrender and truly let go and let God. Sure, I still weep and get sad from all the heartbreak and disappointment the last few months, but I trust God’s plan. Sometimes things have to get shaken up or fully broken before all the pieces can fall perfectly together. That goes for my career, love life, friendships, and everything in between. For example, one day soon my job could cease to exist. Rather than panicking or getting upset by the change, I should instead stop and pray and ask God what’s his plan and ask him to guide me to the next chapter. It is likely that God has been silently putting together all the big and minor details so that one of my past prayers can now perfectly align with His plan, and this was the right moment in time for it all to be revealed to me. Or another example may be that my circle could shrink even more or even fully unravel. But that could just be God preparing me to welcome new and healthier relationships into my life. No matter what it is or what happens, it is all part of His divine plan and purpose for our lives. Remember that we are not the result of some random act of the cosmos. We are perfectly designed by God for a purpose driven life.

Isaiah 43:19, Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Lamentations 3:25, The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.

Philippians 4:6-7, Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

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