Confession: I sometimes struggle with God’s
timing. After praying eleven years for my husband’s salvation, fifteen years
for my back-slidden army-dude son’s salvation, and waiting for a grand total of
4.9 million years (give or take) for a publisher’s response on my nonfiction
book proposal, you’d think I’d have this waiting/God’s timing thing figured
out.
But I don’t.
Mary didn’t either. She said, “Lord, if you had
been here, my brother would not have died.” Somehow, that brings me comfort. I
guess I like knowing I’m not the only one suffering—not the only one who just
doesn’t understand.
Jesus knew that Mary’s brother was
on-the-verge-of-death ill. He had received word from the sisters, yet he chose
to stay put. That’s right. Jesus didn’t budge. And Lazarus died. (See John
11:32)
How many times have I worked myself into an
emotional tizzy because God didn’t make His triumphant, obvious move when I
longed for him to? If yearning, tear-stained requests always influenced God’s
timing, let me tell you, the world would be a far different place. But then God
wouldn’t be God.
The two sisters spent four days mourning their
brother’s death, and then Jesus finally showed
up. And though they were happy to see Jesus, they couldn’t comprehend the
magnitude of what He was about to do.
But Jesus knew.
I don’t know what you’re waiting for God to do,
but if you’re anything like me, you probably wish He’d just hurry up and get to
it. We want the stone-rolling moment! And there’s nothing wrong with wanting
Him to move, expecting Him to move in our situations.
But I have learned one thing on this crazy
journey toward holiness: I can trust God.
And so can you.
We can trust Him when it’s taking far too long
for our prayers to be answered, when the dreams He put in our hearts are
unfathomably, painfully slow in unfolding, and when we’re flat-out frustrated
wondering why He hasn’t intervened in our situations.
No, I don’t always understand God’s timing. But
I am learning to understand God’s character (I’ve had plenty of time to learn,
after all.) I’m certain that:
- Jesus
intimately knows every detail of our situations. (See Matthew 10:30)
- He’s
in the situations with us, and He understands how it’s affecting our
hearts. (See Mark 2:8
- His
timing, while perhaps tardy in our sight, is preparing the way for plans
far bigger than all we could ever think or imagine. (See Ephesians 3:20)
So even though I sometimes struggle with God’s
timing, I'm learning that my times really are in His hands
(see Psalm 31:15) and that God is faithful and utterly trustworthy (see 1
Thessalonians 5:24).
The next time I’m tempted to stomp my foot and,
like Mary, tell God "If only You had ______, this wouldn't have
happened", I’m going to remind myself to take a deeeeep breath and
remember I can trust God.
How about you? Do you struggle with God’s timing?
Is it easy or hard for you to trust God?
16 comments:
I'm convinced of bulletin points 1 & 2 and am waiting for #3.
Oh, yes. I do. You'd think I'd have this waiting thing down, after 47 as a Christian, but I struggle with impatience way too often.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Thank you for the encouragement today. I struggle with this also and get discouraged in the waiting. :O)
Wait? You used that horrible "w" word? arrrrgh!
I'm right there with you! AND I covet to add those prayers to my list. Blessings**
amen! i have the reverse problem, too.
sometimes i want to have MORE time
to get ready for something.
Wonderful post. I'm reminded of a gospel song I heard once that goes, "Well, He's an on-time God, yes He is! He may not come when you want Him, but He'll be there right on time!" Thanks for this good word.
Great reminder to be patient on the LORD. Amen!
I think of that scripture phrase "My times are in your hands" every day, Julie. Helps so much to remember that. And sometimes I need that reminder more than once a day! So thankful we can totally, utterly trust Him...
Yes I do. I am impatient and then it turns to worry and anxiety. You would think I knew this already, but the scripture passages you gave will help me to continue on my journey of trust. Thanks, Julie
I'm wanting to know if you ever heard from the book publisher and what is going on in that area!
Nice to visit, I don't go blogging as much as I used to.
I struggle with God's timing, but eremind myself that 1,000 years is like a day to him. So that's why it seems slow to me. :-)
I understand this all too well. I'm wondering if GOD is waiting on me. :) To do the work!
Thanks, Julie, you spur me on to dream and trust God.
Love,
Tiff
Julie thanks for your post. I am reminded of a season in my life where I waited and waited for God to bring me my husband. I was forty years old when I got married. I waited forever to be a Mommy and finally at the age of 42 I became a Mom and then again at age 44! In my waiting period I remember feeling like my dreams were never going to happen. I ached so much that at times I would cry myself to sleep at night. Just as I was ready to give up on hope God showed up! Now everytime I find myself waiting on God I remember how faithful He truly is. Lisa
I'm SO with you. I seem to always want things to happen NOW and when they don't, I get all uptight. I commend you for being patient for God's timing even when things seem sooo slow.
Julie, Great words. Thank you for blessing us with your insight from your time with Him. Take special care, Hester
Hi Julie,
I hope you have had a great week.
I struggle with impatience, and I'm learning (key word "Learning") I just have to take things one day at a time, and redirect my focus back onto the Lord, and not my crazy life. It seems like I have to redirect my focus at least a million times a day :o) and I could not do this without the help of His Holy Spirit.
God bless you,
Michele
Taking a deep breath and giving thanks that His timing is perfect. :) THanks for sharing you words of encouragment.
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