Ripping Off The Bandaid

Lora Chapman
May 21, 2023
3 min read

Change is hard! Can we just admit that for many of us change doesn’t come easy? There is a grieving process of what was (or what we thought was) and what may or may not lay ahead.

For me I feel like the bandaid of change was ripped off rather quickly. In many ways I am grateful and in other ways I ponder what lays ahead.

If you know me, I’m more of a "rip the bandaid off hair follicle by hair follicle" person. Slow, calculated, and sometimes more painful than just ripping it off. Ha!

Sometimes God has a way of ripping the bandaid off for you. You didn’t get a choice. You didn’t get to calculate that move. You didn’t get to toss a few coins into the preparatory grief bank.

Often when this happens God usually has something big in store. While I myself grieve the changes, I’m also sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for God to bring a blessing, make a miracle, and show off his glory and goodness in only the undeniable ways he can.

The trouble with this is, his timing may not line up with our expectations. Sure, he may have ripped this imaginary bandaid off quickly, but that doesn’t mean he is going to bless us just as quickly.

In fact, he may be setting us up for something even bigger than our wildest dreams. But that requires a pause, that requires some character building, and often that requires flexing our faith muscles for a season.

Patience, (deep sigh), patience is what he asks of us. Patience with ourselves and the stages of grief and character building he may be doing. Patience with the people and the world around us, who may be moving on much faster or receive their miracles or blessings sooner than us. Patience with all the opportunities that come in the midst of waiting, which are often the enemy’s scheme disguised as something sweet but a shortcoming in comparison to what God has in store.

The Bible has much to say about patience. As you could expect, it’s a good thing to practice patience. Patience shows love to ourselves and others. It shows self control and perseverance. It shows we can bite our tongue and our pride. But most of all, it shows that we can trust our God to be just, and true, and show us mercy and grace and hope and love beyond measure.

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8:25

Whatever hard changes you may be going through, I pray you bring it to the cross. I pray you know that God has a plan to turn any pain you have into purpose, and any prayers you pray into promises. He hears you, he cares for you, and most of all he loves you!

He wants you to live life to the fullest and to get there often requires several unexpected detours. Some of them scenic and serene, while others are riddled with chaos and internal conflict.

I hear God saying “I am for you. I am for you. Sweet child of mine I am always for you!”.

Do you believe it? Do you believe him? Do you trust him? Today? Tomorrow? For the next generation? In your pain? In your sarrow?

He is for you!