A Time for Everything
Yellow and orange tulips. April 9th, 2023.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time...” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Over the years I’ve gotten impatient numerous times while waiting for certain events to take place or for certain things to happen. For example, I would get impatient over the long process of learning a new skill, or the extended time in finding a good job, or the many years in completing a degree, or receiving healing when sick, or getting into a good relationship, and so on. I did not understand why did it take God so long to answer me for these requests, or to help me in a certain situation, or to give me what I thought I deserved. Those were times I felt overlooked by God. I thought He didn't love me as much as He loved others because He didn’t give me what I wanted when I wanted it.
It's been a journey of learning that's for sure, and looking back I can't help but acknowledge that God does have an appointed time for every single life event. And, His “delay” in answering a prayer is not actually a delay. His timing is different than ours for a reason, and it actually shows how much He loves us in that He knows best when we are ready to receive certain things. And of course, He makes the most out of the in-between time to prepare us for what He wants to do in our lives.
As I was reading the story of Lazarus from the Bible, I was reminded once again that God's “delay” in a situation does not mean that He does not care, but quite the opposite.
In some situations, like we see in the story of Lazarus, God’s delay prepared the way for a greater miracle.
“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two more days.” (John 11:5-6)
Even though Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus, He did not come to their aid right when they called Him. And His love towards them did not diminish when they were going through a trial. This is a great example to show us that the love Jesus has for us does not change when we go through hard seasons, or when we ask for something and we do not receive it right away. His love is not proven by the physical things we receive from Him. His love for us was displayed on the cross and nothing and nobody can change that. Like Romans 8:38-39 says: trials, sicknesses, troubles or anything else in all creation cannot separate us from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus.
So, as we wait, let us not loose heart and doubt His love.
The answer might seem to be delayed, but it is not. It awaits an appointed time.
“So then He told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." (John 11:14-15)
One thing that I realized from these short verses is that God’s “delay” in our own situation does not only affect us, but it also affects the people around us. And this to show that when the answer does come, others will see what God has done for us as well. And I believe that in the end it will be a blessing for many and bring much glory to God!
God can use our situation to show others who He is so that they too might trust in Him.
“So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me." (John 11:41-42)
As children of God, we have someone to turn to in our time of need. We have someone we can run to for help. We have someone that can do the impossible. Like Jesus, let us look up to God the Father in whatever situation we might find ourselves in, and bring our requests. It is a great privilege to be able to go to the Creator of the Universe to ask for help, to know that we are loved by Him and that He always hears us and will intervene at the appointed time.
“When He has said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "take off the grave clothes and let him go." (John 11:43-44)
Let us not lose hope.
God has an appointed time for the breakthrough.
The season of waiting is but a season.
And, maybe today God is calling us to come out of the grave of unbelief and trust that He can do a miracle for our situation. To believe Him for the more. To bring our requests to Him with faith. To trust that in every situation He is sovereign, He is Lord, and He knows what He is doing even when we don’t understand.
At the same time, God's “delay” can be a period of molding in our lives to prepare us for what He wants to do. For Mary and Martha it was a test of faith. For us, it could be the same or something different, but know that the period of waiting for an answer is not wasted time. It is not a season to sit back and do nothing. But on the contrary, depending on each situation, this could be the best opportunity to pursue after the Lord in a deeper prayer life, in reading His word, in fellowship with other believers, in telling others about Him, in serving or helping others, or even in growing in our gifts and talents and making ourselves more available to the Lord for what He wants us to do. And through each season of life, God is able to work all things for the good of those that love Him and that are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
And one other thing, don't force open the door. Don't try to make things happen.
But let God be God.
Let Him work things out His way in His time. And, as the journey continues, we will look back and see how God's timing was the best timing, and His way the best way.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
If you are in any type of waiting season, let me know in the comments below what God is teaching you, and maybe that would be an encouragement for someone else.
Many Blessings in Christ,
Adina C
