In Time With God's Time

 I visited my dad in the ICU a few weeks ago. I flew up to Boston to be with my mom during this extremely challenging rollercoaster of a time.

While we were in the waiting room, once again, my mom commented on how much waiting was involved in these circumstances.

Waiting for the nurse to finish her procedure so we could go sit with him.

Waiting for traffic on the hour-long drive into Boston each day.

Waiting for another call bringing good news, bad news, no news.

Waiting for the test results, a change, answers.

 It’s ironic this topic came up in such a vivid way, as in weeks prior to my visit, God had already been pressing the idea of waiting upon my heart.

 As a church, we know what it is like to wait, long term, for something big. We have been waiting on God’s timing for years now, in anticipation of reconstruction, a new building.

 As humans we wait all the time in such ordinary ways:

Waiting for the water to boil.

Waiting through carline to pick up the kids from school.

Waiting in the grocery line or on hold with customer service.

Waiting to hear about a new job, a new grandbaby.

 It so often feels painful, boring, frustrating. What is so interesting is that the practice of waiting is such a biblical calling, a fully Christian practice. It is a discipline God calls His people to throughout history. In fact, major themes of the Bible are dedicated to waiting. The “already, not yet” concept.

 Quickly coming to mind is Israel waiting in the wilderness. Sarah waiting for a child. Simeon and all of God’s people waiting for their promised Savior. The disciples, in those 3 dark days after Jesus’ death, waiting and wondering what was next. Waiting now for Christ’s return.

 As I think through all of those “already” times in the Bible, I am reminded that in every single circumstance, God delivered. He provided in the wilderness. He gave the child. He sent Jesus to save His people. He rose from the dead.

 And He IS coming again.

 God’s time is not our time. When Adam and Eve were in the garden they worked and walked WITH him, living in God’s time, with God’s time… until the fall.

 Then time bent away from eternity and into a narrow tunnel vision of our own lives, wants, desires, needs, pleasures. We fight against the wait, the interruptions of our own time. We rail against our own selfishness, fear and impatience that come in the moments and seasons of our waiting.

 God answers with “not yet.” He calls those who wait for Him “blessed” in Isaiah 30:18. And as He has shown time and time and time again, He will deliver, provide, give, answer and come again.

 May you and I trust God in our waiting, see good in our waiting, and lean heavily on the promises of God’s faithfulness and timing.

 

--Sandy Gromacki