Ethan sat at his desk, his heart heavy with frustration. For three years he had poured his energy into his role, going above and beyond anything expected of his position. He was clocking late nights and sacrificing weekends just to get his projects done to perfect standards. Because of his great work ethic, he even managed to help the company clinch several major deals. Yet it seemed like all of his hard work had been misplaced.
Every time a managerial position opened up, his name was conspicuously absent from the shortlist. This time, the promotion had gone to Mark – a colleague with less experience but a knack for charming his way into upper management’s favor. The news hit Ethan like a hammer, shattering what little hope he had left.
The final blow came when he saw Mark moving into the coveted corner office. Ethan clenched his fists under the desk. “Why, God?“ he silently cried out. “I’ve worked so hard. Why does it feel like I’m invisible?” The bitterness in his heart bubbled over and by the end of the day, he had made a decision. He would resign immediately.
That night Ethan drafted his resignation letter. At first he poured all his resentment and disappointment into the words, then realized he should probably keep things professional and re-wrote the entire letter again. The next morning, Ethan steeled his nerves as he strode into his boss’s office, envelope in hand.
“What a waste of all the time & effort“, he thought, “maybe I really shouldn’t have worked that hard“.
“Hey Ethan! Just the guy I wanted to see”, his boss Mr. Thompson said as Ethan approached his desk. Immediately, Mr. Thompson’s eyes came across the letter in Ethan’s hand.
“What’s this letter about? You better don’t tell me you’re resigning!”, he jokingly remarked at first. But then his eyes widened in shock when he looked up at Ethan who gave a quiet nod as he handed over the envelope.
“Wait, you’re leaving us!?”
“Yes, sir,” Ethan said firmly, though his voice trembled slightly. “I don’t see a future for me here. I’ve given my best, but it seems my efforts aren’t recognized.”
Mr. Thompson leaned back, clearly stunned. “Ethan, I’m speechless. I was about to call you into a meeting this afternoon to discuss something important.”
“Sure thing, sir. We can still discuss it later and I’ll try to get it sorted out during my one month notice period.”
Mr. Thompson continued, “Actually…. we were planning to offer you a senior managerial role. The board agreed you’ve demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, and this position will allow you to spearhead an entirely new division.”
His eyes narrowed as he searched Mr. Thompson’s face to determine if his boss was being serious.
“Maybe you felt like we passed you up for the manager role, but that’s because I was trying to push you up to regional. I knew an opening was coming up real soon. Jake’s retiring in a couple months and we were actually thinking to get you started to understudy him next week.”
Ethan’s heart stopped. He had been so consumed by his frustration that he hadn’t even considered the possibility of something greater. “I—I didn’t know…” he stammered.
Mr. Thompson smiled. “Sometimes, better opportunities take a little more time. But I want you to know, your work hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
With a slight shrugged, Mr. Thompson continued, “Well son, this clearly isn’t how I planned to break the news to you. But if you haven’t yet found a new job, I would really like if you took up the role and I can get down to ripping up this envelope here.”
Immediately after, Ethan sat in his car with his head bowed. Lord, forgive me for my impatience. I doubted Your plan when I should have trusted that You see the bigger picture.
Instead of resentment, he was now filled with immense gratitude. It was a no brainer, of course he would take up the role!
Ethan smiled, his heart at peace. God’s timing sure is sometimes difficult to wait for, but it was always perfect in the end.
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
Have you ever felt like your hard work and dedication have gone unnoticed? Perhaps you’ve poured your heart into a job, a relationship, or a personal goal, only to face rejection or delay. It’s frustrating & disheartening when our efforts seem in vain. But as Ethan’s story reminds us, God’s timing is always perfect, even when it’s hard to see in the moment.
Ethan was consumed by frustration when a colleague was promoted to a role he had worked tirelessly for. But just when he was ready to give up, he discovered that God had been preparing something even greater for him. This powerful story illustrates an eternal truth: patience and faith reveal God’s greater plan for our lives.
Why Does God Make Us Wait?
Sometimes, it’s to develop qualities like patience, perseverance, and trust. Other times, it’s because the blessing He’s preparing requires us to grow into the person who can receive and steward it well.
Consider Joseph in the Old Testament. Sold into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned, Joseph endured years of hardship before being elevated to a position of power in Egypt. Had he given in to despair, he might never have realized God’s purpose for his life.
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” // Genesis 50:20
Like Joseph, Ethan’s story is a reminder that God uses every experience, even the painful ones, for our ultimate good and His glory.
Faith Over Frustration
When we face rejection or delay, it’s natural to question God’s plan. But faith calls us to trust that His ways are higher than ours. Ethan’s initial frustration blinded him to the possibility of something greater. It wasn’t until he surrendered his plans and trusted his boss’s intentions that he could see the bigger picture.
As Christians, we are called to walk by faith and not by sight. But do we truly understand what this means? Trusting in God’s promises even when the path ahead seems unclear is the foundation of faith.
Ethan’s story reminds us that God’s delays are not denials. When we trust Him, even our frustrations can become stepping stones to greater blessings. If you’re in a season of waiting, take heart. God sees your efforts, hears your prayers, and is preparing something greater for you.
