"HOPE " deferred makes the heart sick, says Proverbs 13:12. Believing that God will do what he says is quite different from waiting for him to do it. Waiting is hard, but believing while waiting is harder still.
That's why people take things into their own hands. I think of a women I knew who really believed God's instructions about Christians not being unequally yoked with unbelievers. She said she believed God would bring man of his choice into her life. She could trust him to do this. But time went on and on and on. No man came into her life; she got tired of waiting for God. she wanted to marry and so she did. She stopped believing that God could do it; she did it herself, and the marriage has all the marks of a do-it - yourself project. In Genesis 16 we find Sarah got tired of waiting for God. She took matters into her own hands. I suppose, being human, we'd be slow to blame her. She really had waited a long, long time and was getting older every day. She set up a surrogate mother plan. Hagar would bear a child, and God would have the help he needed to get a son for
Abraham. Jealousy cropped up early. Sarah blamed Abraham for the bad decision.
Pregnant Hagar was tot much for Sarah, and Sarah mistreated Hagar until she fled to the desert. God was not unaware; he heard Hagar weeping and if Hagar learned nothing else, she found out that God Knew all about her and cared.
Sarah's decision to take matters into her own hands has had faro reaching consequences. Ishmael was not the Son God had promised. God has not forgotten; he has a timetable in mind. Several years later he gave Sarah a son, unquestionably a miracle. The very thought of it so embarrassed Sarah that she laughed at the Lord's announcement ( Genesis 18: 12 ) Hearing her laughter, the Lord asked a memorable question: Is anything too hard for the Lord? Is anything? Can God accomplish in our lives what he knows is best? God knows how far we've progressed in our hopes and dreams. He hears our weeping. Hagar can tell us that. And Sarah, what would she say to us? Don't mess up your life with do- it yourself projects when God has promised the very best for you.

Great post, Rose-Lyn! Thanks for finding this and posting for us! I would feel it safe to say everyone's 'been there' including me in situations in life of course and it can be an over-riding temptation to 'do it yourself' to save yourself instead of waiting on God to see what He will bring you in His time! Cheers for sharing and well worth remembering!

I know this sure Helped me, when I read it to try and be more patient with the Lord.

Always helps, wish I could have more patience sometimes that's for sure!

I think the Lord knows how hard it is for us to be Patient with him, but I also think that is where Faith comes in. To see just how Strong our Faith is, to be able to Wait.

Yes indeed, dear !