Proverbs 25:15

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break a bone.

“It’s not a no, it’s a not now.” I know you’ve heard that from time to time in your life. You ask for a raise from your boss and it’s not a no, it’s just not a right now. You want to get that new house or new car and it’s not a no, it’s just not now. There are probably a thousand things you could think of in your life where you haven’t been told no, you’ve just been told not right now.

I tell my kids that all the time. I guess that could make a bad dad. Lazy at times. I say not right now because I don’t want to get up off the couch. But there are other times when it’s a good thing. For instance, when the kids want to use power tools, it’s not a no, but it is a not right now. They need to grow up a little bit before I’m going to let them pull the trigger on something that could cut off their ability to pull triggers.

Sometimes, not right now is exactly what we need. Even if we don’t know it yet. We want something really bad, but we’re not ready to have it in our lives. Or we want something for our business really bad, but truth be told, if we had it right now, it would ruin us because we’re not ready to handle it.

But with patience the not right now can be turned into an okay. Sometimes with those who are over you, they just need to see evidence that you’re able to handle what you’re asking for. Your leader, your parent, your boss, your spouse, whoever it is you’re asking for something, they just need to see that what you’re asking for is something you can actually deal with in a good way.

And it’s because they care about you and want to see you succeed. They don’t want to give you something that will crush you. They want to give you something that will help you grow.

At other times, the person your asking might need to work through something in order to be able to let go of what you’re asking them for. Perhaps you’re asking for a responsibility that the other has had for a long time and they’re not quite willing to give it up yet. It’s not a no, it’s a not right now. And the not right now has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you.

The point of all this is, be patient. Patience is rewarded. You might not see the reward for some time, but patience brings rewards.