Sometimes the Lord’s word to a person individually has an application to a broader group of people. In this post, I share some of the words the Lord has given me over the past several weeks.

Background

I was starting a computer training program in Asia. The journey has been a little bumpier than I anticipated. We started advertising in early February but didn’t get any students.

Mid-February

Me: Lord, do you have anything to say to me to me about my computer business?

Jesus: You are moving forward, don’t be discouraged. Don’t expect instant results. I am developing you.

A dream

A couple of days later I had a dream. In the dream I was applying for a job and I was sure that I would get it. But I was told that I would have to wait to hear the results of my interview.

Message of the dream: I need to wait. Now is not the time to give up and try something else.

A few days later

Me: What do you have to say about the computer business?

Jesus: I want you to persevere. You haven’t by any means exhausted all the possibilities. Don’t give up too soon.

Me: But what about the sunk cost fallacy?

The sunk cost fallacy is when “a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandonment would be more beneficial.” Oxford Dictionary.

Jesus: At that point I will speak to you. Now is not the time to change track and try something else.

Third week of February

Me: (We still don’t have any students.) Anything you have to say to me this morning?

Jesus: Patiently persevere. Don’t focus on the results. Focus on what I have called you to.

February 28

Two people drop into the office and express interest in our advanced computer course. This is the first real interest we have found.

February 29

I was praying with my mentor. I didn’t have a specific question to ask, so we both quieted our hearts and asked the Lord what he had to say. This is what the Lord said to me:

Neil, keep interceding. Your prayers have effect, but they are like planted seeds. You don’t see the results immediately; it takes time for the fruit to come. Often, the fruit comes from your prayers, but you forget that you prayed and so you don’t make the connection.

March

We finally got enough people and we started our first course on March 7.

Lessons

Here are my lessons from the past few weeks:

• A big part of walking with Jesus is persevering. In much of life, we give up way too soon.
• I am a person who likes to see quick results. If I don’t see the results I hope for, I am tempted to move on to something else. The Lord is slowing me down and telling me to keep at it for a while.
• Prayers are like seeds. The fruit often comes much later.

Do you have any other lessons from this series of events? If so, please post them in the comments below.

Snail photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

Hourglass photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Plant photo by Francesco Gallarotti on Unsplash