Trust In His Time

I sighed in absolute frustration. I can’t believe this is happening, I don’t know what to do!

I knew I would have to give up on an opportunity, the opportunity. The one I had prayed over, my family had prayed over, and my dear friends had prayed over.

The one we all thought was a ‘go’ just two months prior.

But my time to pursue that opportunity had been claimed by two family crises. Both would be ongoing and need to be addressed. In caring for the needs of my family, I knew I would do exactly what I am called to do. I would do exactly what I wanted to do: take care of my clan.

I also knew I would need to miss a very important deadline for an awesome opportunity I had prayed about for years.

I must hit ‘pause’ on my project, trusting God to hit ‘resume’ when the timing is right.

I knew what needed done. I would do it gladly, with a smile and a heart ready to serve. But, inside, when I prayed in my quiet moments, oh, did it hurt so much.

David was a shepherd boy when he was anointed king. After his anointing he returned to his sheep to care for his flock.

Why might God so clearly communicate what was to come so far in advance?

I wonder, if perhaps, a part of it was to prompt David to think about what he might do as King. How might his day run? What abilities might he need? What are some skills he should practice and hone?

What lessons, that he as a shepherd should he master preparing him for leading his country?

Maybe, like me, you get anxious to ‘move on’. We want to accomplish our plans, our dreams, our end-goals.

Maybe, it feels like we’ve been working F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

Yet God knows. We are told in Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In my ambivalence, I had become anxious. Not at peace. Frustrated and frantic.

But that verse reminds me how to handle it: through prayer and petition and thanksgiving. I and you can come to Him with anything through prayer. We can ask anything. We can be thankful when we ask, because He is God. He will deal with it, with only the best for us.

And after? He promises peace. Peace that transcends all understanding. Peace that we are doing the right thing. Even if the day doesn’t go as we would author.

And when the anxiety reappears? We ask Christ to guard our hearts. Ask Him to implant positivity into our minds when we are tired, when we might otherwise only see the looming negativity of the situation.

When we don’t do it alone, we have resources unlimited! Every day. Because His mercies are new every morning.

Yes, God knows. He knows my hopes and dreams. He knows your hopes and dreams. He knows what He is calling us each to do. He knows what skills we will need to succeed in that calling.

As much as we may want to hurry Him along, He knows the perfect timing.

David refused to rush to the reigning throne. He had ample opportunity to expedite the timing-process by exterminating his tyrant predecessor. But he didn’t.

He trusted God’s timing.

He trusted God’s knowledge.

He trusted God’s provision, that it would happen, according to God’s clock.

And, it did.

I don’t know what you are facing today. What you hope for and dream of. I do know that when we obey on His call on our time, He will direct our footsteps and our actions.

He is teaching us while we ‘tend out flocks’. And He never wastes a minute of His instruction time!

We may not love His timing, but we can trust Him. Truly. Because, He sees everything, far more than we. He knows. He wants only the best for us, He can be trusted.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You that You see. You know. And yet, You still orchestrate only the best. That You aren’t influenced by only my emotions and desires, but Your desire to only give me what’s best. Please help me to trust You, especially when the timing frustrates me. Help me remember to turn to You when it looks bleak and not to rely on my limited vision. In Jesus’ name, Amen.