The wait is temporary – a lesson from fasting

One of the hardest parts about fasting or abstinence is how you increasingly find yourself in situations where you are surrounded by the things you have chosen to give up.

In this season, I’ve decided to try out a Daniel fast where I only eat boiled vegetables, fruits, nuts and water. Honestly, I thought it would be a lot easier than it is. I didn’t realize how much I relied on sugar to get me through the day till I tried this.

It’s taking a while to get used to it, and I hope that I will make it through. If I don’t, tell my family how much I love them.

But there’s something that I’ve learnt during this fast.

In the past week, I have attended a barbeque party and two birthday parties, both of which had biriyani (my favourite meal) as the main course.

And don’t even get me started on the dessert at one of these gatherings. It was this huge mountain of chocolate with snickers on top.

All of this in a span of five days. It’s amazing how some of the best plans are made only after you’ve decided to give up your favourite foods.

But, somehow, and very strangely, I wasn’t as tempted as I thought I’d be, and here’s why –

Everytime I saw the food that I wanted – the pieces of juicy barbecued meat, or the mouth watering golden biriyani rice, or the roast chicken that could’ve made me cry – I was reminded of how temporary this fast was.

I was reminded that in just 40 days (no matter how long it feels), I would be able to eat whatever I wanted again.

There are going to be other barbecue gatherings. There are going to be other birthday parties. There are going to be more snicker chocolate cakes.

The fast is temporary, and with it, so are the temptations.

But just as a 40 day fast is so short compared to the rest of my life, the rest of my life is so much shorter compared to eternity.

The rest of OUR lives are so much shorter compared to eternity.

How awesome would it be if everytime we faced a trial, or a temptation, everytime we went through suffering or pain, or felt the desires of our flesh so strong that it made us feel weak, if we could remember that it was all temporary?

How great would it be if we could remember that every hardship we endure in this life will come to an end one day?

What if we could remind ourselves that God is still sovereign, and is constantly working behind the scenes to make all things work together for His glory and our joy?

And that because of Jesus, and what He did on the Cross, one day we will be with Him, and there will be no more tears and no more fear, no more pain or suffering, and no more death.

Isn’t that the Good News? Isn’t that the Gospel?

That we aren’t of this world, and we have a future to look forward to – a future that’s so much better than barbecued chicken and snicker cakes – a future where love and joy has been perfected.

I’m not trying to discount your pain right now. I’m not trying to say that you have to stop yourself from crying or stop asking questions.

All I’m saying is that maybe it’s time to remind yourself that Jesus has made a way, and He will breakthrough. Your pain will come to an end very soon.

And even if it doesn’t in this life, that’s okay – because our lives are nothing compared to the rest of eternity.

Hold on to Jesus, and look forward to what’s in store.