Commas & Periods in Life

 

A period in grammar is intended to show the end of a sentence or a statement or thought. A comma is a  pause between parts of a sentence. 

The above graphic shows a common saying that people use to encourage others. Essentially, what it means is that we should not make rash life decisions and possibly end certain areas of life when God may only intend for you to take a pause and regroup before continuing on. 

Discerning which God is bringing in our lives can be difficult. At times it may feel like a period. It may feel like the end and we may be ready to give up on a particular dream or idea or whatever. Later, we may realize that it was only a comma in life. It was just God saying "Pause and wait on me". God knows what we need and what is best. He may know we need a rest mentally or physically so He causes a delay. He knows when we need more training and aren't yet ready for what we desire or are pursuing. 

I know people who tried for years to have a child and had given up hope and placed a period for that part of life. Then all at once the woman became pregnant and then realized it was just a comma God had placed. I also know someone who made the decision to place a period on having anymore children. She had a tuba ligation. FIVE YEARS later God surprised her with another child and then another after that! 

Sometimes we place periods on careers. I know someone who had a degree and a prestigious type job and left it to do something completely unrelated. Several years later God made it so she couldn't continue in the new career path due to health problems. She went back to her original career only with added areas. It was really only a comma. As she is continuing that degree career she has also pursued a second one by opening a café. She also is selling honey and honey products after beginning beekeeping. I'd say she's a go-getter even though she still has the health issues. She has allowed God to place the periods and commas in her life. 

In 2020 we left full time ministry to minister to my in-laws. We are hoping this is only a comma in our lives. There is much we love about full time ministry and we are waiting to see how God moves. However, we know that right now ministry to family is most important. I also think that God is using this time to grow us. We've learned quite a bit over the past 2 1/2 years and I hope that means God will show us that it really was just a comma and pause from full time ministry.

As I said, it's not easy to tell which God is doing. Sometimes, often times, we don't know until hindsight but we should always make our decisions prayerfully and trust God and let Him do the placing of the periods and commas.