Are you at the back of the line?

I went to the bank to deposit a cheque for my friend. If you know me, you know that I don’t like lines; I am a strong proponent for doing business online. I didn’t mind going to this bank, however, because it is usually very quick – in and out in less than ten minutes. The last time I went, there was a long line but given my past experiences, I thought this was a one-off situation. Imagine my surprise when I returned weeks later and found myself at the back of a very long line. I started wondering what had caused this new reality. Was it that the bank had become more popular?

While I stood in line, a lady came behind me looking just as confused as I was. As the saying goes “misery loves company”, so we naturally began complaining about the situation to each other. We didn’t get to say much before I heard a teller ask, “Is there anyone in the line only doing a cheque deposit?” I stopped talking, looked at the long line ahead of me, expecting someone to step out but no one did. I smiled and said to the lady, “That’s me. I hope you get through soon.” The transaction was completed and I was out in no time. What looked like it would take an hour, did take less than 10 minutes. I marveled at the situation as I left the bank and many things came to mind.

1. Your current position does not determine your future projection

Many times, we are in a situation and we can’t see a way out. The odds are seemingly stacked against us and we wonder when our situation will change. While reflecting, I realized that God is the one who orders our steps. He is the one that can grant us favor, by moving us from the back of the line to the front, even though there were persons waiting before us. This situation may seem unfair to those who have been waiting in line, but as TD Jakes said in one of his sermons, favor isn’t fair. You should not look at a person’s situation, their blessing, their seemingly smooth path, and get discouraged on your own journey.

The parable of the Vineyard workers

The parable of the Vineyard workers in Matthew 20:1-16 comes to mind. This is a story of workers who were hired at different times throughout the day by a landowner. When his manager was paying the workers, he started with those who had been hired last and everyone received the same pay. Now, it is understandable that those who were there working first thought that this wasn’t fair and grumbled. However, the landowner did not pay them less than he promised.

In verse 15 he asked them, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me or are you envious because I am generous?” The landowner then says to them that the last will be first and the first will be last. While this story is one about God’s grace, I can also see it being related to His favor in this current situation. We don’t get to choose who God blesses and we don’t choose when he blesses them. I believe that He is generous to all of us, only that He’s generous at different times and in different situations.

Trust God’s favor

It may seem as if you are late, that you are at the back of the line and the line isn’t moving, but God can divinely move you. Your current position does not determine how far you can go or how greatly you will be rewarded. You may be in poverty, ‘but God’! You may lack an education, ‘but God’! Favor doesn’t take any of these things into consideration. The Lord chooses who he blesses. You may very well be next in line for your blessing.

God is a way maker

The other parallel I drew was that God is a way maker. I did not realize that God was working something out for me. I believed that I would have had to wait the full hour in the line. In the bridge of Michael Smith’s version of the song ‘Way maker’ he adds, “Even when I don’t see it, you’re working. Even when I can’t feel it, you’re working. You never stop, you never stop working.” God never stops working on our behalf. God sees our situation. He knows what we need, and He knows when we need it. His timing is not our timing. He may keep you in the line for 15 or 30 minutes before you’re moved to the front of the line. He may keep you in the line for the full hour. Trust that He is making a way and working on your behalf.

Trust God’s timing for you

At times we may be journeying with a friend, or know of a person in a similar situation, with similar struggles, when their circumstances change but ours remain. Do not be discouraged. We are all on different paths, even if they look similar. Who knows if that lady who I was talking with had to stay in line longer to prevent an accident or robbery. Who knows if I had to be moved from before her so she could connect with the gentleman who was before me. While it is also true that she could have gotten through earlier and would have gone about her business as usual, the thing is, we don’t know, but God does. What we do know is that the Lord says when the time is right, He will make it happen. (Isaiah 60:22)

His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We can only see with our physical eyes most times, so we may feel mistreated and shafted by God when we see everybody seemingly progressing while we appear stagnant. God has not forgotten you. Isaiah 49:14-16 echoes this well.

¹⁴But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.” ¹⁵ “Never! Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. ¹⁶ See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.

Even if a mother can forget her child, God will never forget you. Wait patiently and trust in His timing.

Friend, I encourage you today to take heart during life’s troubles. Whether you feel you are at the back of the line, or at the front, you are positioned where God wants you to be. You are in the perfect place for a miracle.