“You can do Yoga! It says right here that yoga reduces inflammation!”
I chuckle to myself, “Okay, well I better wait a few days for that.”
My daughter is not convinced, “No, you can do it right now Mom, yoga improves circulation.”
My Abby is perched at our computer, researching ways for me to reduce the swelling of my newly sprained ankle.
I am lying on the floor, in front of our couch, with my calves and feet up and resting on the couch cushions. This I am doing this per my twelve-year-old daughter’s insistence. Elevation, she says, will reduce the swelling. In addition, I can try tonic water, grapefruit oil or massage therapy (tonic water?).
It is sweet that my young daughter is trying to help me get better.
It is amazing that we can access so much information in an instant via the Internet.
If only my ankle would heal as fast as my daughter is finding remedies for it. But that’s not how it works.
Healing, takes time.
No matter how hard I try, it will take time for the swelling in my ankle to go down. The ligaments will need a few days to repair themselves. And I will need to lay off my usual routine for awhile (I actually miss the gym, who knew that was possible?).
The truth is, we live in an instant age. We have instant access to a plethora of information, news, photos, music and even our child’s grades at school.
It’s wonderful, but sometimes I fear it makes me even more impatient for those times when I have to wait.
The less I have to wait, the less I want to wait.
I am a person who prays daily. And when things aren’t going the way I’d like for them to go in my life, I often ask God for help. I ask Him for strength and wisdom, I ask for guidance. Yet no matter how I phrase my prayers, no matter how nicely I say things, in so many words I’m just asking God to fix my situation. I’d like for him to just:
Solve my problem.
Take away my pain.
Give me answers.
Heal my wounds.
And I’d like for Him to do it quickly.
But God knows better than to listen to me. He knows some things take time. And when He doesn’t answer right away, when He doesn’t wave his magic wand and make it all go away, what is my response?
Impatience.
Confusion.
And mostly, Indignation.
All this, even though I believe the words of Jeremiah 29:11 to be true.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)
Yes, I have a strong faith. But the truth is, I’m also a work in progress. And I don’t like to wait.
So in those times when I’m wanting God to fix things and fix them right now, I try to remember the following.
1-God’s plan is so much bigger than mine.
It’s crazy to realize I am but a speck in this universe. A speck. There are so many pieces to His great mosaic. I have only my limited perspective. I don’t see what all God sees.
2-God’s timing is so much better than mine.
In my mind, I’m ready to move forward, always. Why the wait? It isn’t until later, when I look back, that I can see God’s handiwork in my life. The people he has planted in my path. The lessons I’ve learned from specific circumstances. The way he slowly tenders my heart in the right direction when I am stubborn. These things take time.
3-Ultimately, God’s way is the best way.
I may think I know what I want, I may think I know how things should go, and sometimes I am right. But there are many, many times times I am wrong. God though, is never wrong. I can always trust where He is taking me.
I may not see, I may not understand, I may not like the circumstances I’ve been given. But at least I am learning this: sometimes there is no instant fix. Healing, growth and change take time.
But as I am learning how to walk in this life with faith, I know that when I’m waiting on God, it will always be worth the wait.
The Writer Tracy 
All of it…so true! Waiting is so hard and I’m so not very good at it! P.S. I love the word plethora. I know, strange…haha
Haha Shelley, I love that word too. I don’t know why I love it either. 😉
Your daughter is right about yoga. Helps me in many ways. And avoid inflammatory foods like shellfish, meat and the nightshade family (tomatoes, eggplant). You’ll get better soon!
Thanks Joyce, I love yoga, just afraid to put any weight on that foot just yet. I never considered the foods I was eating, thanks for that tip!
Such great truths here, Tracy! Thanks for sharing your insight. I pray your ankle heals completely–according to God’s plan, in His timing, and His perfect way. Blessings, friend!
HI Sabra, Good to hear from you. Thanks for your prayers. I can feel it getting a little better every day. Slowing down is hard-I’m so used to being on the move! 🙂
I also am impatient and want quick fixes. But what you said is correct: God sees the bigger plan and His way is so much better. We usually only realize it when we can look back on a situation or problem and see how it work out. Good thoughts in your article.
Thank you. I know it helps me if I can remember to focus on the bigger plan, but always a challenge to do so! Hope you and the family are well!
Well said, Tracy. I agree with you on all points. I always try to find the lesson in a situation; what am I supposed to learn? I don’t always like the answer but, as you said, when I look back it turns out to be the best answer. I remember hearing someone say ‘if my life turned out the way I wanted it to I would have shortchanged myself. God’s plan is so much better and bigger than mine. That’s the truth! 🙂
I love that thought and it’s so true! God knows so much better than we do. It’s funny how in faith we may not like the answer we get, but we still know it’s what is best and in accordance with God’s plan. I think that alone is a vital step of growing in faith, being able to acknowledge and trust when we do not understand. Thanks for your comments!