You know those watches with all the numbers jumbled at the bottom? The ones that normally say, "Whatever. I'm late anyway." As much as I hate to admit it, it would probably make perfect sense for me to own one of those. I hate it because it drives me crazy to be late. I grudgingly admit it because I am almost always late.
For as bad as I am at following them, I almost always have a schedule. Except on Saturdays, of course. Although I might be a few minutes behind, I tend to stick pretty close to that schedule. Even on vacation, I like to find out when attractions are open and how long I should expect to be there; then I plan in a way that I can fit the most new things into my time.
I used to think I could schedule my life as a whole the same way I like to schedule my daily tasks. But considering I am in my mid-twenties, living with my parents, never been on a date, don't have kids, and still haven't published a book, I'd say the life schedule my 13-year-old self had was thrown out the window a long time ago. I've made some adjustments along the way. Some changes were voluntary. Some weren't.
I'm willing to accept that I might not have had all the right ideas when I was 13. I'm also very glad that God didn't give me some of the things I wanted back then - especially at the time I wanted them.
But many times, I want to point at the clock and yell at God. "Come on! Don't You know You're late?! Don't You know You're making me late?!" Times like when He promised a mission field in Denmark four years ago, and I'm still in Missouri. Or when I remember He promised healing 13 years ago, and it still hasn't come.
In recent months, God has been talking to me about His timing quite a bit. I must admit that I am a slow learner. The other day, I came across these verses in John 14. "If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you." And God showed me a picture.
He showed me one of those watches with all the numbers fallen. Unlike the watches you can buy at the stores, where the hour and minute hands still rotate as usual, these hands always pointed at the numbers. But they always pointed at the right time. I just couldn't tell because it wasn't where I would expect them to be.
I have often heard it said that God is never late and never early. He is always right on time. When He makes a promise, He keeps it "when everything is ready." When WE are ready. And when HE will get the most glory from it.
I'm still working on it, but now, when I'm struggling with God's timing, all I have to do is look at "His watch." I will be reminded that He knows what time it is. I will be reminded that He is running right on time.
Join in: Do you struggle with God's timing? Are there any promises He has made to you that you are still waiting on? What helps you trust His timing?
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| After God showed me that picture, I drew the best version of it I could. Maybe it will help the more visual people out there like it did me. |
