If I were to conduct a man-on-the-street interview with Christ-followers, I’d ask this question: “When it comes to God answering your prayers, what is one of the hardest and most frustrating things for you to accept and understand?” IMHO I think one of the #1 answers would have to do with timing. Why did He wait so long? Why didn’t God answer sooner? If God knew what I needed, why did He wait to give it to me? Why not spare me the heartache that came with waiting?
Timing. Makes a vehicle run right. Makes a meal come together at just the right time, a la Beat Bobby Flay. 🙂 Timing really is everything. I’m certainly no gourmet cook (I can burn water) but I do know it is good to have things come together at the right time.
In fact, stop for a moment and read a passage of Scripture dedicated to timing: Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. But don’t stop there! Keep reading because one of the most powerful and beautiful verses comes in verse 11: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (ESV) There was an old praise and worship song in the early ’80s by the Maranatha Singers called In His Time. (Click on the song title for a video link of the song). It was straight out of this verse. I remember singing it at night when I laid in bed struggling about my future. Sometimes that was all I had to hang onto (or so I thought).Â
I know God has a plan for my life, for yours. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (You can read verses 24-26 on our own. They are powerful).
All of this to relate Principle #4 to you:
God’s signature on events is timing.
I’ll try to flesh that out more tomorrow. Meanwhile, you can add #4 to the list of three I gave in yesterday’s devotion.
Pastor Bill your messages have been so spot on for me! I needed this encouragement this morning to remind me who I am in Christ and what he sees instead of what I see. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your comment Sherry. As you state, it is so important that we see ourselves how HE sees us.
God’s timing is always the best, Bill, whether we realize it in the moment or not.
Blessings!
You are so right Martha. We would be in a much better spiritual state of mind if we remembered that.
The saying “We want God’s hand, but we don’t want His calendar” comes to mind.
Hmmm. I had not heard that one before but I do like it. Thanks for the comment Daniel.
Several powerful days of good things to talk to God about for sure, thanks Bill. I can’t remember who said this but it is true: “Time doesn’t heal. God heals, in time”. Ecclesiastes 3: points out to us our lives ups and downs, triumphs and failures, are not just a part of this life here on earth, it’s so that we ultimately learn to focus on God for our needs. Realizing what we have here will not last, preparing for heaven that has an everlasting life that is incomparable to life on earth.
Thanks Gail for the kind words. I like that quote; I have never heard it before. Realizing what we have is temporary and preparing for heaven is a must. Appreciate your comment.
Speaking of timing… I am coming late to the party with responding. Timing really is about perspective in many ways. I clearly do not have God’s perspective and should (as hard as it is at times) trust His timing. God can see past, present, future and make sense of it all. I can see my present as it is happening, I can remember my past… and usually just shrug my shoulders when trying to make sense of any of it.
Come late that is fine. All the ice cream may be gone. 🙂 But I do agree with you Ryan is trying to make sense of something which seems to make no sense (at least in my mind)