Have you ever said: "Lord, it's enough! When are you going to do something about this? Why are you waiting so long?” Well, I don't know anyone who hasn't asked those questions of God at some time or another in their Christian walk. I certainly have.

When it looks as though God has waited too long to answer your prayers, you need to stop and realize that his purposes may be quite different from yours. Frequently before he responds to your need, he has to adjust you to the trouble and help you learn a much-needed lesson. Maybe he wants to teach you that you can face and endure trouble as long as he is with you in the trouble. Then he will take you out of it. But it will not happen until you have stopped being restless and fretful about it. He may be waiting for you to be calm and quiet. Then he can say, "It is enough."

Paul Billheimer wrote in Adventures in Adversity: "There can be no testing of character without delays...By this means, during delay, God is testing and developing character. It is easy to be impatient with God when we fail to understand the purpose of his delay. However, God is willing to be misunderstood in the universe he has made, in order to achieve his purpose of character development."

I recall a three-year delay God gave me, when I so wanted to leave a job I was in. And if I had left when I wanted to, I would have missed three years of personal development that have been essential to my walk with God and the ministry he has given me. The tough lessons I learned­ then molded my character like none others.

When it was finally over, I wrote in my journal: "I praise you that it is now enough. My time in this job is over, but I praise you that it did not end until you had completed your work in me.” It's easy to say that at the end, but difficult to say it in the middle, isn't it?

If you're in that predicament, wondering why God hasn't done anything yet, try to remember that the day will come when you can look back and see how he was developing you in that time. Someday he'll say to you, "It is enough now.” Until then, keep trusting and believing that he waits so that he can be gracious unto you.

Presented by Lisa Bishop

We all know the saying, “The struggle is real.” Well, the wilderness is real too. If you have been following Jesus for any length of time you know what the wilderness is like, and if you have not yet hit a wilderness patch, you will. It is part of life here on earth. And rather than wishing it away, I want you to know how to “wander well” so to speak.

When I was reflecting on the story of the Israelites in the desert, something struck me. They thought they were wandering. Their perspective of their journey was that it was aimless, endless, and meaningless, but it wasn’t. God had a magnificent plan. While the Israelites saw their wilderness time as wandering, we know that God had a greater purpose. They just couldn’t see it at the time. In my 26 years of following Jesus, I have experienced several seasons of wilderness. And if I am honest, sometimes they have been very long seasons that I thought would never end. But in hindsight, like the Israelites, I can see that there was purpose and God kept his promise. “For the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6b). In other words, God is right there with you, even when you feel as though he has abandoned you, he hasn’t. He is right by your side.

So while it may feel like you are idling with no clear purpose or direction, I want to shift your perspective on the seemingly endless seasons of your life; from pointless, to purposeful, and give you some tools to not just merely survive the wilderness waiting for it to pass but to actually experience the wilderness as a place to grow and boost your spiritual thriving. As a follower of Jesus, you will experience times in the proverbial desert. The question is, “When you are in the wilderness seasons, what will you do, what or who will you turn to?”

In Deuteronomy 8:2-4, the children of Israel were reminded God had a purpose for the forty long years in the wilderness, and these verses are also a reminder to us as we face our own desert seasons.

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.”

In the wilderness God:

Leads you all the way through.

Tests, strengthens, and matures your faith.

Builds Christ-like character.

Teaches you deeper reliance and trust in him.

In these verses God not only reveals his purpose, he wants us to see his provision in the wilderness, and that ultimately it is a place he uses to purge us and produce things in us, including a greater dependance on him. It will require an additional change in perspective, from “Why is this happening to me, to, “What is God producing in me.” As Romans 8:28 reminds us, " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Let’s be honest, even with this perspective, the wilderness is an unpleasant place, fleshly speaking. We naturally want prosperity, health, and comfort. Sometimes we forget that there will be times of trial and pressure throughout our lives and our faith will be tested. But the God of grace will meet you even in the wilderness and as Deuteronomy causes us to remember, he will lead you all the way. This is where disciplining yourself and training your heart and mind to lean into God as he leads you through is essential. Take time to pray for an increased sensitivity to his Holy Spirit and ask him to give you ...

(Presented by Lisa Bishop)

It’s easy to try to get our identity from all the wrong places rather than from the very of truth of God. Have you ever been in a season of waiting? Maybe you are in a time of waiting right now. Are you waiting to hear back on a job interview, a promotion, a letter of acceptance to school. Maybe you are waiting on a phone call from a long-lost friend or estranged family member, a call from the doctor for a diagnosis. Waiting is hard.

I was having dinner with a friend the other night and she was lamenting about prayers that are seeming to go unanswered. We talked about how difficult and often uncomfortable it can be when we experience what feels like long delays as we seek God for help, or answers to a problem we are facing. We confided to one another the pain and frustration we can feel in the waiting. Can you relate? Have your prayers ever sounded like a broken record as you wonder why God was waiting so long to answer?

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us what wisdom looks like in the waiting. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Trust God not your own understanding. If we’re honest, disheartenment can take up residence in us when we rely on our limited knowledge and vision of a situation. We can be tempted to trust in what we know and forget that we serve an all-knowing, trustworthy God. We can be enticed to give into impatience rather than fully surrendering to the faithfulness of Jesus.

In Psalm 27, David expresses authentic faith and courageous trust in God as he cries out and waits in confident expectation that the Lord will rescue and save him in his time of trouble. In Verse 14 he declares he will, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

David is training his heart to trust and remember that the Lord hears him and he is faithful. In his perfect timing God will answer David and come to his rescue. In his perfect timing God will answer you and come to your rescue. Waiting for God to come through is a way that God builds your faith and character and grows your spiritual maturity.

Waiting can feel like wasted time but it isn’t. The waiting sanctifies you. The waiting humbles you. The waiting prunes you. The waiting strengthens your dependence on God.

What are you waiting for from God? Will you trust him? It really comes down to choice. Will you choose patience and faith, or will you give into fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety? Listen, God is for you. He is making a way for you. Cooperate with him so the time spent waiting will prove productive and fruitful. There is wisdom in the waiting.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop)

Do you want to live a long, good life and enjoy the beauty that fills each day? I’m guessing the answer is “yes.”

There is so much advice coming at us at a rapid pace these days and there is no shortage of knowledge and information clamoring for our attention. We are inundated with commercials, podcasts, Instagram, and social media posts that tell us the ways to achieve the “good life.” Buy this car, have this job, make this salary, acquire this house, wear these clothes, marry this person….. The list towards the pursuit of happiness is infinite and the chase is endless. And whatever we look to to guide our “happiness,” whatever “wisdom” we consume on a daily basis, will ultimately consume us and have a profound effect on our hearts, minds, attitudes and actions.

That’s why it is important to look to God’s Word as we seek discernment and wisdom for our everyday life. I want to look to the Psalms as we pursue godly instruction to guide our paths.

Psalm 34:12-14 says, “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

The keys to a good life:

Watch your words.

Turn your back on sin.

Practice being at peace.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if these were the standards? Surely we would all be living our days filled with more beauty and goodness. While these are not the principles of the world, as a follower of Jesus these are instructions from God’s Word and we are called to live by these truths.

If you were to examine your words, do you speak with integrity? Do your words show moral character and honesty? Are they in alignment with Ephesians 4:29 which says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”When you are tempted to sin do you take the way out as 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Do you practice peace as Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

As a child of God you have the profound privilege of living in a manner that shows the world a better way of living a good life, and enjoying the beauty that fills each day.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop)

A few years ago I received a call from a friend. When I picked up the phone she asked if we could talk. She said she had been hurt by something I did and wanted to have a conversation about it because our relationship was important to her. I admired the courage it took for her to call me. It would have been much easier for her to stew or make up stories about what happened rather than take the initiative to share her hurt. She went on to describe what happened from her perspective and how she felt. I really admired the way she approached the conversation. She did not blame; she shared her experience and point of view. She sought to engage in dialogue rather than prove a point or put me in my place.

Ephesians 4:15 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”  Christian maturity is marked by the ability to share difficult truths in a loving way. And my friend did this which led to a fruitful conversation. Her attitude was one of humility. As you prepare to approach a conflict situation, the actual words and delivery in the midst of the confrontation are key.

No matter the level of hurt or offense, approach the conversation with humility. Share your perspective. Avoid blaming. Seek to understand the other person’s perspective. Listen.

If you are the one who was hurt, give grace and extend forgiveness. If you caused the hurt, own it, sincerely apologize, and ask for forgiveness. Give your ego a backseat and seek the fruit of the Spirit of peace.

Whether you are the injured or offending party, seeking an end to conflict by pursuing harmony and being a peacemaker is biblical. As children of God we are called to share Jesus’s passion for peace and reconciliation. Where can you actively engage in conflict with the goal of breaking down the walls that seek to divide your relationships? Who will you call this week to address a conflict as you seek peace and reconciliation?

(Presented by Lisa Bishop)

Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? There’s a difference between being a peacemaker, actively pursuing peace in the midst of conflict, and being a peacekeeper, avoiding conflict in an attempt to keep the often “false peace”.

According to the Bible there is nothing inherently wrong with conflict. Disagreements happen. But the way we resolve our conflicts is extremely important. Conflict can become the catalyst to greater understanding, intimacy, and depth of relationship; or it can bring anger, bitterness, and broken relationships. How you deal with conflict will literally shape the direction of your life.

Whether it’s addressing a conflict with your supervisor, an argument with your aunt, or not seeing eye to eye with a friend, most of us feel anxious, fearful or at least uncomfortable when conflict arises.

It’s important to ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” For me, I am often hesitant to lean into conflict because I am afraid I will in some way damage the relationship or cause the other person to not like me, to walk away from the friendship or cause a further wedge between us. Yet more often than not avoiding conflict only leads to a build up of hurt and resentment and then the very thing you fear the most ends up happening. Distance grows, avoidance settles in, and the relationship fades. So what do we do? The first step to take is to identify the conflict. Take time to reflect and write down, “who is the conflict with,” and from your perspective, “what happened?”

This is also a critical time to get honest with yourself and acknowledge the role you played in the conflict. Now you might be saying, “it’s all her fault. I did nothing wrong.” But most often there is something that both parties need to address and own. It could be an attitude or reaction on your part that God brings to light. As the saying goes, “it takes two to tango.” My favorite verses in displaying humility and inviting God to shed light on my contribution to a breakdown are found in Psalm 139:23-24. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Invite Jesus into your conflict!

This posture before God models a teachable heart and invites God to use the conflict situation to grow and sanctify you. Your heart will be primed to approach the other person with humility and in a way that will honor God.

(Presented by Lisa Bishop)

Have you ever experienced conflict in the workplace? Clashing with another person is part of life and the truth is, we have all experienced conflict, in both our personal and professional relationships.

Sometimes you find yourself in a minor disagreement, other times conflict can turn into a full blown falling out with a co-worker or friend. Whether in the workplace, or at home, relational discord is part of life. It is not a matter of “if” you will have conflict but “how will you show” up in the face of it.

How do you react when there is a disagreement, disharmony or tension in a relationship? Do you hide or withdraw and harbor your hurt? Do you react by lashing out, pointing fingers and blaming? Maybe you move into a mode of avoidance just hoping the conflict will resolve itself. While we know that none of these responses is helpful, it can be easy to default to behaviors that are unbiblical. Fear, pride, or simply not knowing how to engage with conflict in a healthy way can hinder our relationships with others. So what is the God-honoring and relationship-building way to approach what most of us experience as uncomfortable conflict situations?

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus gives us counsel and words of wisdom when he says, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Notice that Jesus says “peacemaker” not “peacekeeper.” This is a really important distinction. Being a peacemaker infers an active and intentional posture towards pursuing and creating peace. Taking the actions necessary to live in harmony with another person. Acknowledging there is a relational rift.

Peacekeeping on the other hand is often passive and an attempt to work hard at pretending that nothing is wrong or bothering you to keep tensions from rising. Peacekeepers try to avoid conflict at any cost. Peacemakers invite necessary conflict and know that it is a part of life. Now I am not saying that you should intentionally stir up conflict. I am saying that conflict is an unavoidable part of life and rather than ignore it, acknowledge it.

Re-frame conflict as a way that can enrich the relationship when approached in love and handled in a gospel grounded way. Practice the courage to engage conflict rather than living in a land of false peace.

And remember, in the words of Jesus, when you pursue peace, you will be blessed and called children of God.

What are the dreams you've been carrying around with you for a long time? What are the ideas and wishes that are still nuggets in the back of your mind? Would you like to see some of them become a reality, to the glory of God?

You know, there are many good dreamers in the world who never get to the doing part. Jesus said that the blessing comes when we do what we know we should do. So, if we only dream and wish and hope, and we never take any steps to turn those dreams into goals and make them happen, then obviously, we miss out on the blessing. And when you miss the blessing, you miss the joy and excitement and fulfillment that God has for you.

I think there are many people who feel that life is just one day after another, the same ole same ole, and they don't really enjoy living very much because they've never stepped out and by faith, reached for some of their dreams and worked to reach a goal. I can see how life would be pretty dull if there was never anything to reach for.

Why do people wish and dream but often never make it happen? Well, perhaps because they're reactive instead of proactive people. We talked about that in part one. A reactive person is one who allows others and circumstances to dictate what happens to them. They make victims of themselves and then claim it's not their fault!

A proactive person is one who looks down the road, sets a goal, and instead of looking for excuses not to pursue that goal, that person refuses to be sidetracked and he or she heads for the goal they've set. Proactive people don't wait for life to dish out their destiny. They determine where they want to go—where God wants them to go—and do the things that are necessary to get there.

Now, let me hasten to add that as believers, our goals should be ordained by God. We should be going for the things that bring honor to Jesus. Our goals should bring glory to God, not to ourselves, and should not be selfish goals. We need eternally significant goals—to set our hearts on doing the things that will make a difference.

Those goals can range from the simple everyday things of our lives to life-changing pursuits. For example, you may need to set a goal to become a better communicator—listening better, choosing words more carefully, being truly attentive to others, etc. You don't need to pray about whether to do that or not; it's a great goal and it will glorify Jesus. But let me tell you, becoming a better communicator will not happen unless you determine to set a goal and pursue it.

So, whether your goal is to change a bad habit or improve your skills in some way, or a goal to start your own business, or go to the mission field or whatever, you need a plan and a method that will help you turn that dream, that wish, into a specific goal with practical steps to take that will get you there. And today I want to offer some suggestions.

Begin with a personal mission statement—a center that governs everything you do throughout your life.

You might want to begin this process of turning dreams and wishes into goals by writing this personal mission statement. It would be a good overall plan to act as a governing center in your life to guide your decisions, your motivations, your whole life. Not long after my ministry began, the Board of Directors developed this mission statement for The Christian Working Woman:

The Christian Working Woman exists to equip and encourage Christians in the workplace, primarily women, to know and love Christ more, and to live as Christ would, by applying biblical principles and utilizing their gifts and abilities to build His Kingdom.

From that came our vision as to how we would fulfill our mission and specific goals for the near and distant future. When we are confronted with new opportunities, we check it out with the mission statement and ask ourselves: D...

Jesus taught us to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. Since there are no Caesars in our lives, what does that mean to us today in our everyday worlds? We conclude our thoughts about conflicting priorities. I think this is a principle we need to understand very clearly.

If you think of your employer as "Caesar" in this case, how does this principle apply to you?

Well, first of all, what are the things you should be giving your employer—the things that are rightfully his or hers?

Hard work. You must be careful to apply yourself conscientiously and work your full shift. A Christian should never take advantage of their employer by cheating them out of time or work that is due to them.

Protection of the employer's assets. Those pencils and pens, paper clips and pads supplied by your employer are not for your personal supply room at home. Expense accounts should be meticulously honest and fair.

Loyalty. While you are taking your salary from that employer, you owe them respect and you should not be found stabbing them in the back or running them down to others.

But, on the other hand, what do you NOT owe your employer?

Dishonesty of any sort. Lying for your employer is giving to them what is due to God. An employer has no right to ask an employee to lie or deceive in any way. This is where you need to take a stand and not render to that employer what is not due them.

Participation in any activity that is dishonoring to God. Socializing after work can create some compromising situations. If you have to be a part of these in order to keep your job, it's probably time to look for another job. You are rendering to Caesar the things that belong to God.

As we think about how to choose between conflicting priorities, we want to always remember that there are some clear lines to be drawn. Give to your employer what is due them. Jesus gave us that principle, and we should take it very seriously. But make certain you don't get trapped into giving an employer what is God's right to ask of you.

You know, sometimes you feel like if you do your job right, it causes you to be uncaring and tough with employees or coworkers. Did you ever find yourself in that kind of predicament? Well, how do we handle what seems like conflicting priorities like these?

It is right for you to demand of yourself and others that the job be done right. But it's also true that as a Christian, you should be concerned about the personal welfare and feelings of the people who work for you and/or with you.

The first thing we can and should do is to pray daily for those employees and coworkers. Pray for them specifically by name. As much as you can, learn something of their personal situation so that you can pray for them effectively. Obviously, you can certainly pray for their job performance and their relationships and attitudes on the job. That's the best thing you can do for them.

And then, remember that your attitude toward these people will clearly indicate that you care about them. Treating them with respect; understanding that in God's sight you are all the same; caring about their lives; giving them recognition when they deserve it; making allowances for personal situations when you can; treating everyone with fairness and honesty—all of these are ways to show God's love to your employees and coworkers and to be a servant to them.

What is often frustrating is that many times it's difficult, if not impossible, to carry on the daily duties of your job and still interact with each person, whether coworker or employee, on the personal basis that you would like to. Even in my small organization I find that a frustration. I'd like to know every little thing concerning my staff and take time to talk about their concerns in detail, but if I did that very often, we'd get very little work done. What I've been learning to do is to trust God to bring other people into their lives to help and care for them when I can't reach out to them as I would like to. And then I pray he'll make me sensitive to know when it's important for me to take that time and reach out.

Remember that as Christians in the marketplace we have unique opportunities to demonstrate what Jesus is like by the way we care about others. If you truly care about other people, loving them as you love yourself, placing their welfare above your own, you can be certain they'll know it.