Just after the Christmas season, my husband and I decided to take a week off and relax in Chicago, Illinois. Anyone who knows anything about this windy city is probably laughing at my naivety. Nevertheless, that was the plan. It took me a whole day to drive halfway. Two days in Algonquin to visit friends. One day at Morrison. And then I go home.
But then our car broke down right next to a busy highway. During the eight-hour drive home, instead of feeling at peace, I felt nervous. Not only were Ben and I stranded in Princeton, Illinois, we were thrown off course. After calling Triple AAA, getting a tow truck ride, and staying overnight at a local hotel while the car was being repaired, we were left frustrated, stressed, and inconvenienced. But to be honest, even in the face of such negative emotions, I felt surprisingly calm. Not because things went the way I expected, but because I realized this wasn’t my problem. This was not in our plan, but even in the midst of chaos, God is still present.
Why delays feel personal
Although this incident is personal to me, I’m sure everyone has experienced a delay or unexpected situation at some point. I had to work overtime, my train was delayed, my flight was canceled, and XYZ took longer than expected.
Delays cause a lot of anxiety, control issues, and fatigue. That’s normal. After all, we are humans. We want to know the plan and take control of our lives. But even small inconveniences can leave you feeling overwhelmed because you weren’t expecting them. Our nervous systems hate uncertainty, and unfortunately, 100% of life involves tons of uncertainty.
So what happens to us? As Christians, we can fight delay or we can embrace it. We either believe that God will work through them and the pain, or we don’t. The choices you make are ultimately up to you.
What does the Bible say about interruptions?
Proverbs 16:9 teaches that planning is natural to humans. “In their hearts men plan their course…” But do you know how this verse concludes? “But the Lord establishes their steps” (NIV). Friends, we can make plans, but tomorrow is not guaranteed. We can make the most detailed five-step plan or plan the most elaborate vacation trip, but ultimately it is God who establishes our steps. why? Because God knows and sees things beyond our understanding.
Isaiah 55:8-9 describes the process as follows: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways” (NIV). In some ways, this verse seems frightening. God’s ways are different from our ways, and we will never fully understand this side of heaven. But for some, this brings great comfort. God’s ways are not our ways, and that’s a good thing. How do I know?
Although it may seem frustrating at first, we can trust God’s delay. Joseph, Paul, and even the Israelites in the wilderness experienced delays. However, all of them were used by God. For protection, for growth, and for reasons we still don’t understand. Perhaps they weren’t either. Yet, each trusted God through it all.
What is God doing during the delay?
Today, I don’t know all the reasons God uses delay. I don’t know exactly why God would do something like that. But we do know that God may be protecting us from things we cannot see. Invisible protection. And in other cases, perhaps God is trying to slow us down when we are running on empty, and this is the only way God can get our attention. Like a car running out of gas, he knows we need to take care of ourselves and will only do so if we have to.
As for my vacation, I still don’t know the exact reason for the delay. But I know it teaches me trust, not control. Create space for connection, reflection, and rest. It teaches us that we can plan, but we have to trust beyond what we can see and plan in our heads.
When there is no answer, choose trust
Choosing to trust when you don’t have all the answers is confusing. It’s confusing because trust doesn’t automatically make frustration go away. However, it creates time and space for integrity. What does this actually look like?
Name your feelings before God. Tell God that you are feeling confused, angry, angry, and sad. Please explain why. But then you can let go of the need for “everything to make sense.” Ask God for His peace, which passes all understanding, to know that even when plans go awry and things go off track, His presence is with you.
As I write this, I am at the Honda dealership waiting for my car to be repaired. It will probably be after midnight by the time you reach home after more than 6 hours of trekking. However, I’m grateful to have this waiting room. And I thank God for being good and still with me here in Illinois.
This past week and weekend is part of God’s story for me. It’s not a mistake or a flaw, but I can’t quite see the plan here and now. If you are experiencing your own delays today, I would like to help you recognize that tension. It can be frustrating, confusing, and sometimes downright annoying. But God wastes nothing, even the frustrating parts. And we can trust God for the unfolding of our lives.
If you’re looking for more practical help on this topic, ask yourself the following questions: Take time to pray through them and truly respond.
-Where is God asking you to trust Him right now?
-Do you ever have a hard time when your plans go off track?
-How can you ask God to use these delays to grow you and your faith?
-How can we reframe delays instead of viewing them as frustrations?
As you answer these questions, we encourage you to openly communicate with God in prayer and ask Him to soften your heart to His plan. It is not easy for us to see delays as blessings. And it takes time. But if we learn to see them with open hands and hearts, we can trust that God has good plans for us, even if we can’t see them. And because we know God’s character (He is faithful, ever present, and willing to help us in times of trouble), we can trust Him.
prayer
Dear God,
Even when we are stuck, frustrated, and frustrated, help us to still trust You. Help me to trust You beyond what meets the eye when things don’t go as planned or as expected. When you don’t understand something or feel upset, remember that your way is different than ours, but you know best. You are a good and faithful God, so no matter what happens, we can trust you. Protect us with your grace, enrich us with your love, and show us how to become more like you, even when we want to go our own way. As we live our lives with plans, help us to entrust our plans completely to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Photo credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Zbynek Pospisil
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up, Amber looked for resources on faith and mental health, but couldn’t find anything. Now, she gives hope to young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond just reading the Bible and praying more. Because even though we love Jesus, we can still be plagued by anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help you navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
