God’s Timing

Turning on the news this morning to see what the main headlines were, I was late. The journalist had already announced those and was talking about how close we were to spring in the Southern Hemisphere right now. They then proceeded to invite an expert guest on to discuss how to spring clean your house.

I groaned.

I am still recovering from two bouts of influenza with asthma and have no headspace or energy right now to clean for Spring. Where I live it had just recorded one of the wettest months on record and the coldest day in 50 years. We were all still shivering and there had also been record numbers of people sick with RSV, influenza or whooping cough.

Spring was not yet ready to be Sprung yet!

But as I went to turn the television off, I stopped. I might as well listen to the ‘expert’s advice’ for when the warmer weather comes and when my energy levels are back up to normal. I can get the information now but act upon it down the track.

This appears to be how I felt in reading Scripture yesterday morning. Not much energy available right now to devour the Word of God but badly needed “a pick me up” in my life. When there has been many a night with lack of sleep, coughing, wheezing, with a temperature, the body and mind are not as sharp as usual, and I feel like I can’t read or absorb much from the Bible. But in knowing the value of God’s word for my life – if I read it now, then I can try to understand it and act upon it later–once I recover to good health.

I open the Scriptures up to Job, chapter 23.

O that I knew where I might find him,
    that I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case before him,
    and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he would answer me,
    and understand what he would say to me.

Job 23:3-5 NRSV

Job is talking to God stating if I go to Him and share with Him about what is happening in my life, I will be able to find the answers to my questions and understand why my life is like this right now. Why everything is falling apart.

Sounds familiar.

But in verses 8 -9, Job states he can’t find God.

‘If I go forward, he is not there;
    or backward, I cannot perceive him;
on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;
    I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

Job 23:8-9 NRSV

There are times in each of our lives where we feel that God has abandoned us. Where we feel, ‘Where is He?’  We can’t find Him. ‘Does He not care?’

My foot has held fast to his steps;
    I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

Job 23:11 NRSV

Upon Job reflecting upon his life that “his foot has held fast to His steps” (meaning that Job had not departed from God’s commands and was not at fault) Job stated this in verses 13-14:

But he stands alone and who can dissuade him?
    What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me;
    and many such things are in his mind.

Job 23:13-14 NRSV

God will do what He desires and will complete in me what He appoints for me.

This actually gave me Hope. God has the perfect plan for my life. God knew, right now, I would not be well enough in body to act and do. But with God, He will accomplish/ complete in me, in whatever time frame God has for me, what He has appointed for me to do. Each of us has a different list. Yes, there might be similar things on out lists (like a Spring Clean List) but whatever they are, God will help us complete them in the right time.

So, when we feel like “God, I don’t see you in my life right now”, don’t believe the thoughts. He is exactly in the place where you are.

This wisdom I read here in Scripture I will come back to reflect upon for my life when I am fitter and more able to incorporate God’s Kingdom ideas into my life.

God will stay with me and complete in me His plan at the right appointed time for me.

Just like Spring will have to wait for its cleaning time when it’s the right time for my recovered able body.

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Have you had those days where you are just not up to it? How do you feel on these days?

Is there a way that you remind yourself that God has the perfect timing for you?

What could you do to remind yourself of this?