The Classic Game of "Slap Jack"

This evening my little sisters and I enjoyed a highly competitive tournament of the classic card game "Slap Jack." Many of you may be familiar with this game and its requirement of incredibly fast reflexes in order to gain "winner" status. I was certainly a bit rusty....I think age may be getting the best of me! If you haven't played the game before, the basic idea is this: Two players alternate  placing one card face up at the center of the table. If a Jack appears at the top, the first person to slap it wins the entire pile that has accumulated underneath. The first person to run out of cards has unfortunately lost, leaving the winner to bask in glory! Perhaps it was the night hours that brought out the quirky and slap happy version of Erin-Rae, but I found myself singing the Chariots of Fire theme song and maybe a rendition of "We Are The Champions" by Queen. All things to say, my sisters and I had an enjoyable evening.

As the tournament came to a close and the girls gave me hugs goodnight, I found myself reflecting upon the overall theme and/or concept of Slap Jack. Isn't the goal to see whose hand can get there first...who can respond swiftly enough in order to "slap the Jack"? After a few brief moments of reflection and application to everyday life, I was left to ponder this question: How often do I feel as though I have to "Slap Jack" through life? This may or may not make sense as of right now, but I hope that the words that follow will resonate with you in some regard.

There are times when we feel as though we are behind in life...that our journey is somehow lacking something that others have...we haven't "slapped the Jack" first and therefore something is wrong with us. Maybe you see others in relationships and wonder if your day will ever come. I know I have had my moments sitting on the couch with a Kleenex box watching Sleepless in Seattle...what can I say, I am a hopeless romantic. Maybe the job you were so hoping for fell through or your list of academic achievements is significantly shorter than those surrounding you. Perhaps you feel numb as if you are moving at a snail-like pace as others experience all the joyful events that would definitely be considered Facebook timeline material. Whatever challenge you are facing and whatever season you are in at this point in your life, I want to encourage and remind you that everyone has a journey and no story is more significant than the other.

Robert H. Schuller once said,"God's delays are not God's denials." What a profound word. I believe that if God has our best interest in mind and has perfect timing, then He must have no intention of depriving us of any good thing. That being said, He may require us to practice the art of patience...sometimes to the highest degree. I recently stumbled across an article that provided four reasons why God delays:

1. God delays because his ways are not your ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)
2. God delays so you can demonstrate your faith (Galatians 6:9)
3. God delays so he can bless your waiting (Isaiah 30:18)
4. God delays so he can be glorified in the end (John 11:4)  

http://godscareerguide.com/4-reasons-why-god-delays/

Remember that God will never leave you nor forsake you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Take heart and trust that God holds your future in the palm of His hands. It's time to give God the pen and let Him write your story.