Wait Before You Act...

When I was undergoing marriage counseling, one of the topics our counselor discussed with us was personality types. Then I learned, according to Tim Lahaye’s book, Why You Act the Way You Do, that I was a choleric. Although, as a believer in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, I do not like to put myself into a box of “this is just the way I am” because an author described me as such. Still, I could definitely relate/understand why I was described as a choleric. I am a “tell me what, and I go” kind of person. I live by doing and thrive through action. I’m always on the go. If you give me an idea, I’m immediately thinking of implementing it because I believe that if I don’t act fast, I’ll lose steam and things may never be done. Can you relate? Haha.

The good thing about my personality is that once I get going, I will stick with whatever it is until it is done. Sounds like a good thing, right? Yes, except that it also means that I am not great at waiting or patience. And if you remember from Sunday School class, patience is a part of the fruit of the spirit. And while God wants us to be hardworking and diligent in whatever we find our hands to do, He also wants us to be patient. So, while I often get upset at my husband for not understanding the level of “urgency” to which everything had to be done, I am grateful for having him as a partner, because even though against my will, sometimes, I have learned gradually to wait before acting.

Recently, I began to see how important waiting is in my walk with the Lord. Back in April, the Lord spoke a statement to me about my future ministry, and in the Temi-way, I began to panic, plan, and worse of all, talk to a few people about it. He just spoke a statement. He hadn’t given me more. But I was already on the go, moving faster than my Lord; and He reprimanded me. As I humbly submitted to Him and asked Him to lead me, He began to peel off layers and layers of what He would have me do, asking me to trust Him with every piece of the puzzle. And honestly, it has been so rewarding. I have been so contented, so satisfied, and I’ve enjoyed peace by just following.

Something happened again a few weeks ago during a prayer walk. The Lord laid something in my heart to start in our church, but this time, I chose to wait. I said to myself, “I’d wait before I tell my pastor. It doesn’t hurt to wait.” And as I did, week after week, God properly defined what He’d have me do as regards what He said, even confirming it through the pastor’s sermon.

God has great plans for us, and He wants to do great things through us. But sometimes we are in so much hurry, moving faster than Him and ruining everything before we even start. We cannot know better than the Idea-Giver. We cannot do the work better than the One who supplies the grace. It is He who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13) and if He has chosen you as the one to champion one or two of His projects, then it is most profitable to wait on Him. He is the Project Owner and the Project Sponsor. The “what” “how” “when” “where” and “why” of the project would come from Him. We are only the Project Managers, and to succeed, we must submit to Him.

So, if you’re a speed jet like me, wait!!! If you’re never in a hurry, trust Him and act when He says “go”; and He will crown all your actions with success.

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