“Not yet.”
Wise words from my Weight Watcher leader a few weeks ago.
She used this phrase when confessing to our group, she didn’t like cauliflower. “At least not yet. I am staying open-minded. Someday I will find a recipe using cauliflower that I will like, just not yet.”
Not bad advice for acquiring any new taste in food. Or stepping out of our comfort zones to new adventures. Or giving grace to our souls and the souls of others.
Not yet.
“Not yet” comes from the old English meaning “till now, thus far” implying opportunities still await us.
Her phrase lingers in my heart. Two simple words, releasing the locked gates around a self-limiting belief. An unassuming phrase to let go of a past experience that burdens and weighs us down.
A surprisingly strong expression empowering us to keep at it, to be open, not to give up.
Not yet moves us forward from helplessness into hopefulness.
Using the phrase “not yet” gives a framework to change negative thinking into positive living.
To hope means to be ready at every moment for that which is not yet born, and yet not become desperate if there is no birth in our lifetime.
Emily Dickinson
Try it:
- No cure for cancer – not yet.
- I am not at my goal weight – not yet.
- I can’t forgive that person – not yet.
- I will never…. – not yet.
Not yet brings patience to our waiting in the in-between times. Not yet is a pregnant phrase – holy anticipation of new birth.
- Not the best job – not yet.
- I haven’t met the right spouse – not yet.
- I do believe that the relationship will be restored – not yet.
In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title. Do not lose your knowledge that man’s proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads. Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it’s yours.
Ann Rand
God’s Not Yet
God isn’t finished with me or any of us – not yet.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1: 6
We are in desperate need of grace – grace to ourselves and grace to the other. I find discouragement in all the political infighting, civil unrest, climate catastrophe and strained and shattered relationships.
Not yet gives me hope.
Not yet shifts my perspective and I begin to faintly see the world, other human beings, and even myself as God sees.
I mess up. I try to control and prove myself worthy. Not yet is not an excuse, but a joy-filled invitation to humbly return to my Creator, who is not done with me yet – not yet.
When my faith waivers and I take my eyes from Jesus – the Master Potter molds and shapes me once more time.
When others drive me crazy and I am angry, impatient, and unloving, God reminds me we are all beloved children of God – all of us. My heart so longs to be love, to be with Christ, and to see him in all people and things. Not yet, but someday.
We are being spiritual constructed all the time.
I have added this phrase to my tool chest. When I catch myself caught in negative thoughts and actions, I practice saying not yet out loud. To be honest, at times I don’t fully believe it, but am willing to give God space to work it out in his time.
God hasn’t failed yet!
What do you think of the way “not yet” transforms our language and thoughts?
I love the attitude shift these two little words can bring about.
Here is just one little word that I am careful about how I use: “just.” As in, “I’m JUST a housewife, or __________ .” It implies two errors. 1. Being a housewife or _____ is not noble though all (unsinful) work is noble. And 2. It defines me by what I do, not whose I am.
I love how “not yet” carries an air of excitement, it’s (whatever “it” is) is close.
Great, simple attitude check. Thanks
I agree with you about the word just. I find BUT is another one to listen for in my inner talk. Not yet DOES carry hope and excitement. Glad you found it useful and thanks for commenting.
I love this! My twins had a math teacher in middle school who would not let the students ever say ” I can’t do this” or “I don’t understand this.” They would have to say “I can’t do this yet,” or “I don’t understand this yet.” If they didn’t say it right the first time, she would just smile, and patiently wait for them to say it again with the “yet” attached. It was amazing how much that small word changed their whole mindset and confidence about their learning!
Love how that teacher instilled in them this positive thought. Sign of a good teacher!
“Not yet!” Oh, such encouragement I found here today Jean. My biggest “not yet” today is my 48 year old son that is not walking with the Lord and suffered two strokes this week. My mother’s heart is heavy and I found encouragement today. Thank you Jean. I look forward to returning to read more.
Hello Dorothy! so great to meet you and glad this post encouraged you. I know as a mom of three adult kids i think it is harder now than when they were younger. No one prepares you for parenting adult kids, do they? Praying for you!!
Once again, Jean, you have taken the ordinary — these two simple words — and transformed them into a holy tool for creating sacred space and much-needed balm for our troubled souls. Thank you.
And I hope you saw that Emily P. Freeman shares this post in her weekly newsletter.
HI Elizabeth, I about flipped in my chair when I read Emily’s email this morning and saw this post was listed. WOW – so grateful. Thanks for your kind words too – they mean a lot to me!
Not yet, the opposite of longingly asking why or when. Not yet’s answer isn’t always oh, finally…it may be oh, I see now why not.
Thanks for reminding me not to panic.
Thanks for Commenting, Lisa! Isn’t it amazing how two simple words can transform us?
Two simple words which bring such powerful hope. Thank you for sharing this!
Hi Joanna! So glad you too felt the power in these two simple words. I know it was given me encouragement.
How powerful these two words are! I’ll try saying “not yet” more often this week and see how it shifts my attitude.
Hope these two simple words bring you hope and encouragement this week, Lisa.
It’s amazing how too little words like “not yet” can completely change our perspective! And I love that phrase, “holy anticipation of new birth.” It too provides superb encouragement of things yet to come. Thank you for a fresh breeze of hope, Jean!
tow simple yet powerful words. I am glad they encouraged you – I know I won’t be forgetting them!
I love how you’ve offered these two simple words as a banner of hope flying high in our thoughts and dreams. Certainly, we can live life more positively if we remember we’re a work in progress, and God’s “not yet” is all we need to thrive.
Blessings!
Isn’t it amazing how powerful these two words are? Good to add to our hearts! Have a super weekend, Martha