God's Timing - Derrick Jackson

While listening to Tim Hawkins, one of the funniest guys I have ever heard, he started talking about words or phrases we use around our kids to make them hurry up.  For example…hurry up, right now, this instant, and pronto.  He explains that pronto is one of the only Spanish words many of us know and or understand.  Why?  Because we like to hurry.  Just about everybody we talk to or are friends with seem to be in a hurry or are trying to rush to get something done.  Now I understand that there are times when hurrying is necessary.  There are emergencies that require us to get there and get it done. 

In John 11 Jesus receives word that his dear friend Lazarus was very sick.  Even though he was encouraged to go and heal him, Jesus stayed where he was for 2 more days.  Jesus had the perfect opportunity to panic and rush to save his friend, but he didn’t.  The point Jesus was making was that God doesn’t respond immediately to what we perceive as an urgent need.  The foot note in my Bible says, “His delay had a specific purpose.  God’s timing, especially his delays, my make us think he is not answering or is not answering the way we want.  But he will meet all our needs according to his perfect schedule and purpose (Philippians 4:19).  Patiently await his timing.” 

The Lord’s timing is seldom, if ever, our timing.  We are such a “microwave” society that we want what we want and we want it right now.  God isn’t like Burger King where we can get it our way.  God has a plan for us, and our ability to be patient and walk with him depends on how much we are walking with him prior to anything that would cause us or make us hurry.  One of the best things we can do is to just take a breath and listen to Psalm 46:10…“Be still, and know that I am God…”  Spending as much time with God in His Word is the best medicine for us to understand and know what God may be doing.  When in tune with the Spirit, we have a better feel for where God may be working. 

So if you are in a time of life right now where things are moving extremely fast.  Try spending more time in God’s word and see what that does…Matthew 6:25-34.  Jesus gives us the answer in verse 33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”