In God's Time

 

As I’ve said before, I don’t wait very well. I don’t like being stuck in a traffic jam, I don’t like it when my flight is late at the airport, and I don’t like waiting in a long line of people for just about anything. 

When Jesus healed the blind man (Mark 8:22-25), the healing occurred in stages. After Jesus touched his eyes, the man said that he could see but not very clearly, that the people looked like trees. After Jesus touched his eyes again, the man was able to see clearly. Jesus obviously had the power to heal the man completely the first time, so it’s possible that He was making a point by touching the man twice. Sometimes, God may work immediately to deal with a problem we have. At other times, He may accomplish His work gradually. God told the Israelites when He was leading them into the Promised Land (Deut 7:22-24) that He would not allow them to overcome all the nations living there at once but He promised that they would eventually have the victory, which they did.

 

We all face problems at one time or another. When we ask God to help us, sometimes we see an answer right away. At other times, we don’t notice any immediate change or the change seems to be happening very slowly. This can test our faith. We need to trust in our loving God, who will provide what we need at the proper time.

 

Paul advises us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).

 

May we all have peace as we wait for God to complete His work for us and in us.