God’s Delay Equals 1+5 Blessings

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God’s Delay Equals 1+5 Blessings

Psalm 84:11 “The Lord is a sun and a shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

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Taken in July 1987, at the Narrows, Schroon Lake, NY, on our first date.


Dear Kids,
I am sitting in the truck listening to the thunder erupt in the distance. The blackening skies and the gentle raindrops spattering the windshield explain the delay in Abigail’s track meet. Another boom causes me to add another thirty minutes to the delay. Will this track meet ever get underway?

I don’t like delays. I am the kind of person who likes to get on with things. Let’s make a list and get it done. Even with track meets, I want to go and enjoy the races and then head home to get to the next thing. But that is not the way life works. Sometimes the rain and the thunder force us to wait.

God loves to give gifts. He gives many to all of mankind. The sun, flowers, blue skies, family, and friends are all examples of the blessings He bestows on all people. But for those who belong to Him and walk according to His ways, He gives special attention. He does not withhold any good thing from His own. But sometimes there is a delay to His blessings. Sometimes our all-wise Father sees fit to make us wait.

Twenty-nine years ago Dad was very involved in Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) while studying at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In the Spring of 1987, he decided to apply for a summer mission trip to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he would spend time on the beaches talking to people about the Lord. He eagerly filled out his application and sent it, hoping to receive acceptance quickly. As a second option, he sent another application to a camp in Speculator, New York – Camp of the Woods.

Time passed and Dad did not hear back from the organizers of the summer mission trip. He was still hopeful and continued to wait, but finally, when it came down to the wire, he needed to make a decision. Reluctantly, he accepted a position as a youth leader at Camp of the Woods. A few days later the acceptance came for the beach trip, but the die had already been cast. He would be going to Speculator, NY.

He did not know why God had delayed the acceptance for his first choice until sometime later, but God had something special for him at this camp. Soon after arriving, he met a young, blonde New Jersey girl whom he eventually married – yes, that was me!!!

How thankful I am for God’s delays. If that acceptance had arrived a few days earlier, Dad and I would most likely not have met and none of you would be here either!

The raindrops are getting stronger. In fact, there is some hail falling from the sky. The phone rings and Abigail informs us the track meet is canceled. What a bummer! But I am not going to worry about it. God knows the reason for the delay and cancellation. One day we may just find out that this unplanned circumstance produced a blessing that was exactly what God had in mind all the time.

After all, twenty-nine years ago God’s delay equaled 1+5 blessings – I met the wonderful man who would become my husband, and with whom I would receive five wonderful children!

Love,

Mama

2 Comments

  1. kathy w on April 27, 2016 at 7:59 AM

    good morning…i loved your story….romantic & prayers answered by God all in the same story…pretty neat…my kind of story…sounds familiar to mine…but more yrs added on…..40 to be exact….thank you for this devo/story….

  2. Betsy de Cruz on April 28, 2016 at 3:06 PM

    Sandra, this is a great story. I don’t like delays either. You describe me perfectly when you talk about always moving on to the next thing. I’m learning to be a bit more relaxed, but it’s a challenge. (Challenge doesn’t sound relaxing, does it?) God has everything under his control, and sometimes delays are part of His plan.

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Hi, I'm Sandy! 

I write inspirational letters based on the Bible that share words of hope, encouragement, truth, and healing to my children and anyone else who longs for a mama's touch.

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