Every once & awhile I'll just be doing something really random & I'll get super motivated for a short minute to write something specific. In this case, I'm studying for a huge test & start thinking about God's timing. I have no clue why, it just hit me, & I hope somehow God turns this random-ness into glorious-less (if that's a word).
God reminded me today that His timing is always perfect. Just a short example, one of my favorite families is moving (*insert a crying emoji* or maybe actually two or three or four because that would be more accurate). For a couple months now, they haven't known when they were actually going to hop in the car & leave. Patience has been hard, but God's perfect plan is beyond evident through this whole thing. They got word a few days ago that they will be moving in two weeks. What's so amazing about that is this: there is only two chapters left in the weekly book study that their mom started, & there is two weeks left of their homeschool group. God's plan was for them to finish up here & have a smooth transition into life away from what's been their "home" for the past decade or so. I'm so amazed y'all. Everything turned out so much better than they expected.
I'm just gonna be real, because being real doesn't happen much in this culture. If something doesn't happen by the time I want it to, or if it gets put off, or comes sooner than I want, boy you better bet I'm gonna blow up. Not even kidding. I say God's timing is perfect, & I say I believe it too, but do I really?
Nope, I don't. I'll answer that question plain & simple. I don't trust God. I limit His inconceivable power. I think things need to happen on my own time table because hey, I know what I need right when I need it. I'm the one that's living down here anyways. Untrue. God knows my heart better than I do. His plan is infinitely better than mine. He will work all things out in His timing.
Let's just take this time right now to think of some areas of our life where we doubt God's timing is perfect. Think of some areas where you're like, "Come on God, hurry up, I'm waiting..."
Whatever you came up with, I hope & pray that you realize God's got an amazing plan with this that is much bigger & better than yours. Lay it down at His feet. Surrender this part of your little life to the one who even planted this desire in your heart. If it is His will, He will fulfill it in His perfect timing; just trust.
And then, if our great God has recently given you your desire, or fulfilled His plan for your life, praise Him! This is something that we are way to quick to pass over. Last night in my bible study, one girl spoke up about one way it's hard for her to pray; she said she feels like she's asking too much. Gosh, I agree wholeheartedly with that. Yes, we are commanded to to lay our problems & desires at the feet of Jesus; it's awesome if we're asking Him to fulfill them, but then we need to praise Him when He does. Often times, we're pretty quick to say "Oh wow, what a coincidence!", instead of "Oh wow, Lord you are so good & I praise you for this!". Because everything happens for a reason; for our good & for His glory.
Now skip over for a second to something else I struggle with. Not only do I need to trust His plan & praise Him for big things, but small things too. When something seems 'too small' to be the works of my God, I ultimately abandon the idea that it is. If He is actually all powerful & all knowing then He doesn't have time to delight in me. I'm just a plain person. There's nothing special about me. There's a billion other people in this world He had to worry about. He doesn't care about me. Wrong! Our God delights in us. He loves to send little surprises to us. He loves to fulfill little details that we care about. Just like we would love to send some flowers, or a gift just to let them know we love them, that's what God does for us; big things, & little things alike.
God reminded me today that His timing is always perfect. Just a short example, one of my favorite families is moving (*insert a crying emoji* or maybe actually two or three or four because that would be more accurate). For a couple months now, they haven't known when they were actually going to hop in the car & leave. Patience has been hard, but God's perfect plan is beyond evident through this whole thing. They got word a few days ago that they will be moving in two weeks. What's so amazing about that is this: there is only two chapters left in the weekly book study that their mom started, & there is two weeks left of their homeschool group. God's plan was for them to finish up here & have a smooth transition into life away from what's been their "home" for the past decade or so. I'm so amazed y'all. Everything turned out so much better than they expected.
I'm just gonna be real, because being real doesn't happen much in this culture. If something doesn't happen by the time I want it to, or if it gets put off, or comes sooner than I want, boy you better bet I'm gonna blow up. Not even kidding. I say God's timing is perfect, & I say I believe it too, but do I really?
Nope, I don't. I'll answer that question plain & simple. I don't trust God. I limit His inconceivable power. I think things need to happen on my own time table because hey, I know what I need right when I need it. I'm the one that's living down here anyways. Untrue. God knows my heart better than I do. His plan is infinitely better than mine. He will work all things out in His timing.
Let's just take this time right now to think of some areas of our life where we doubt God's timing is perfect. Think of some areas where you're like, "Come on God, hurry up, I'm waiting..."
Whatever you came up with, I hope & pray that you realize God's got an amazing plan with this that is much bigger & better than yours. Lay it down at His feet. Surrender this part of your little life to the one who even planted this desire in your heart. If it is His will, He will fulfill it in His perfect timing; just trust.
And then, if our great God has recently given you your desire, or fulfilled His plan for your life, praise Him! This is something that we are way to quick to pass over. Last night in my bible study, one girl spoke up about one way it's hard for her to pray; she said she feels like she's asking too much. Gosh, I agree wholeheartedly with that. Yes, we are commanded to to lay our problems & desires at the feet of Jesus; it's awesome if we're asking Him to fulfill them, but then we need to praise Him when He does. Often times, we're pretty quick to say "Oh wow, what a coincidence!", instead of "Oh wow, Lord you are so good & I praise you for this!". Because everything happens for a reason; for our good & for His glory.
Now skip over for a second to something else I struggle with. Not only do I need to trust His plan & praise Him for big things, but small things too. When something seems 'too small' to be the works of my God, I ultimately abandon the idea that it is. If He is actually all powerful & all knowing then He doesn't have time to delight in me. I'm just a plain person. There's nothing special about me. There's a billion other people in this world He had to worry about. He doesn't care about me. Wrong! Our God delights in us. He loves to send little surprises to us. He loves to fulfill little details that we care about. Just like we would love to send some flowers, or a gift just to let them know we love them, that's what God does for us; big things, & little things alike.
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will delight in you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
Let's be honest. We think of God as this distant guy who sends people to total condemnation & is too busy to pay us any attention. Untrue, once again. Although our God is just, & we will receive punishment for our disobedience, He is also full of grace & love for His children. Over & over & over again in scripture God tells us, "do not worry, do not be discouraged, do not be afraid..." So be encouraged! Our Lord & Redeemer promises that He is with us, that is plan is bigger then ours, & that He loves us. Whether you're moving & don't have a house, or the date, or a moving company, or if your simply stressed, or unsatisfied, or can't find joy, He does care. He does love you. He knows what is best. Run into His arms.
So there you go - my random inspiration written out. Real quick, before I go back to studying & before you close out of this page & return to your day, I'm gonna remind you of what I keep forgetting: He is a good, good Father. Sister, brother, let's all go together & lay our plans at the feet of Jesus ~ and then we'll skip around with joy because His plan is so much greater than ours, & His timing is perfect.
Through God's grace,
abby
john 3:30
So there you go - my random inspiration written out. Real quick, before I go back to studying & before you close out of this page & return to your day, I'm gonna remind you of what I keep forgetting: He is a good, good Father. Sister, brother, let's all go together & lay our plans at the feet of Jesus ~ and then we'll skip around with joy because His plan is so much greater than ours, & His timing is perfect.
Through God's grace,
abby
john 3:30