In due time

I have been deer hunting hard all week and have yet to take my trophy buck. This is not to say that I have not seen numerous bucks, but I have not seen the very mature trophy buck that I desire just yet. I have a couple of friends who have already bagged theirs and of course they want to call me each and every day to see if I scored yet, (or I suspect more to rub it in that they have already scored and to inquire as to what is up with me and why is it taking me so long).

Their good natured banter rolls off my back like water off a duck’s back. I know with certainty that in due time I will take my buck and the longer it takes the more I will appreciate it when I do. I do not feel any pressure whatsoever and actually am having a tremendous amount of fun matching wits with these intelligent animals every day. Even if I have to wait until next year or the year after to get the one that I desire, I am committed to doing so.


I was thinking about this and could not help but think about how the world wants instant gratification, particularly here in the United States. I had some friends come down to go sail fishing with me last year and they came when the weather was not good for sail fishing. We fished anyway and we tried awful hard to get them a sail or two but it was not to be. To say they were disappointed would be an understatement. I think they might have thought that all that they had to do was show up and the sail fish would start jumping in the boat as soon as we started fishing. It does not work like that and although the fishing is very good most of the time, it is “fishing” and not “catching”; sometimes it is just not to be. They might have to come down two or three times in order to hit it when the bite is hot, but I assure you that if and when they do they will have a blast!

I have found that most of life is like that. We want that promotion, new car, new home, baby boy, baby girl, or whatever and sometimes we get whatever we want and sometimes our desires are delayed; sometimes interminably. People fret and worry and fuss and moan and yet, it does not change anything. We should keep in mind that if and when it does happen and our dreams become reality, that if it takes a really long time and we have to fight the hard battle to achieve it, then it just makes it all the more worthwhile.

Recently I retired and barring something unforeseen, I am financially set for the rest of my life. I worked very long difficult hours, day in and day out for nearly forty years in order to reach that goal. At times I thought I would end up in bankruptcy. My jobs were always stressful, nerve-racking, and difficult and I sometimes had to take tremendous risks and more than a few times it looked as though things might not work out so well. I continued to trust my God and to do whatever I had to do and work as hard as I could to make my dreams turn into reality. I never gave up and I always knew that it would happen if I kept plowing through it all.

Praise God for allowing me to live long enough to see the fruits of my labor and trust in Him mature. I do think I appreciate it more than if someone with lots of cash had just given me financial freedom or if I had hit the lottery, (although I would never have turned either down).

Whatever your goals and aspirations trust in and take refuge in the Lord. The Bible assures us that He even has His angels take charge over us to keep us in all of our ways. Cool!

Patiently wait on the Lord and work with your angel guardians. Work and don’t worry; especially in these tough economic times. Keep slugging it out day after day and keep your hopes and dreams alive because one bright sunny day when all is well with your soul, you will surely look back on these difficult and dark days with a smile on your face and thank God for fortifying your soul with some tough times; it will make the good times all the more worthwhile.

If we look at it another way, what if every single time we went hunting we would have an opportunity to take a magnificent trophy buck? Or what if we went sail fishing and we caught them every single time we put a line out. It would be meaningless and we would be bored silly and certainly not much fun.

I think that one reason God designed things as He did was in order that we would not get bored. Sometimes it rains and sometimes it is sunny; sometimes hot and sometimes cold. Sometimes things come easy and sometimes it takes hard work and loads of time. Do you want something today? Be patient; in good time it will happen, and when it does you will be able to appreciate it Trust in God and know that He will deliver whatever is in our best interest in due time, (His schedule and not ours).

Psalms 91:2
I will say of the Lord, “He is
My refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.