Thought for Monday, April 22nd

April 17, 2013

God Time

  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:8-9

“Time present and time past

Are both perhaps present in time future,

And time future contained in time past.”

-          T. S. Elliot

Anyone who has ever needed an answer to a pressing life situation, and who has been totally dependent on God for the solution: has probably come to the resounding, realization that God’s sense of timing and ours often do not find them selves in sync.

We, when we go to God with a need or a situation that requires His divine intervention: would prefer that He provide the answer early on, in the preliminary stages of whatever situation it is we are facing: however God seems to go more for the dire straits, last minute when it seems all hope is lost moment to deliver that touch that only His hand can bring.  I often think this is just for our benefit so He can prove to us that nothing is impossible for Him and also it serves to remind us from whom our help did come and who deserves the thanks and praise.

Patience is not one of the fruits of the Spirit that most of us like to pray for: yet God in His divine sovereignty seems to find a way to help us learn and develop that character quality in His own special way; often without our needing to ask:  remember He knows what we have need of before we can even think about asking for it: and He also knows we don’t ask for some things we need because we don’t want to face the process of attaining it.

Regardless, of our take or our pleasure with God’s sense of timing: it can not be argued with and it is never too late; but it is always just right on time when He knows the moment is best.  I guess that old saying is true, ‘Father knows best.’

Our challenge is to learn to trust His sense of time and to believe that He knows what is needed, when it is needed, even if to us it seems He isn’t even paying attention.  He always is and He always will do what is right and good for you and me, but never before it is His time.  And if any thing is in His time by His hand it has to be good.

Prayer:

Father, while I am always a tad bit reluctant to pray for patience: I do want to learn to wait on you, for your time and for your way all the time because I know that is what is best.