God’s timing vs. my impatience

Today’s reading began with assurance that God's slowness to respond to my needs does not indicate lack of love but shows that He does love me. Getting my prayers answered is not as important as believing that He cares — even without any current evidence.

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. . . . When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. . . . Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:5–42)

Then this statement from Charnock: “We should not depend upon second causes for our support, but look beyond them to the authority of the Deity, and the dominion he hath over all the works of his hands.” Jesus wanted this sister of Lazarus to believe based on His words, not based on the visible evidence that they are true. He said her brother would live, but she wanted to see him live.

When I pray for the salvation of loved ones, I want to see them living in faith. Jesus wants me to trust Him, to have that faith in Him as my Sovereign King. This is trust that draws me to Him in all experiences and keeps me in worship mode due to His royalty. Sometimes I come to Him with emptiness instead of being filled with holy thoughts and the strength that faith gives. My heart should be regarding Him as who He is and what He says. I can then be obedient according to my awe of who He is:

If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 28:58)

When I consider the majesty of God, I should not enter into His presence with light or foolish thoughts, as if He is a mere buddy, or worse, a genie in a bottle. I should not read His Word as if it were the voice of some ordinary scribe. It should always produce a consideration of His majesty and  engender reverence in my obedience and make me speak of God with honor and respect. He is a great and glorious king, far above His greatest blessings and those ‘second causes’ that are so easy to elevate as more vital. “If You had been here…” really! How could I think that He is not, or unaware, or does not care about the threats to my trust.

When I suffer or when others suffer and it seems God is not with us, I should remain confident. I’m to wait. I’m to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) and extend the love of Christ and the hope of salvation to all. And instead of hosting a pity-party, remembering that my time is short. We all are terminal. We all need to repent of telling God what to do and instead trust Him and live for His glory.

PRAY: Jesus, may Your goodness overwhelm me each day, even those days when it seems You are not here — but You are. You promised never to leave me. What do I believe? My feelings or Your Word? Enable me to live utterly for Your glory and for the joy of knowing You. Also enable me to trust You to gather the perishing into Your family, and to do whatever You ask me toward that happening.

Waiting. . . . not easy!

We have a loved one who dropped out of our lives a few years ago. It grieved us and even though the Lord didn’t reveal any wrong doing on our part, it has been a troubling rift. Without knowing any details, it seems this was a decision for personal reasons and involved other people too. So we pray and wait.

Last night I dreamt about this person and woke up with tears on my pillow. Thoughts included taking initiative but everything I could think of that I could do seemed more like manipulation than seeking restoration. So I prayed again and asked God what I should do, if anything. As soon as I opened my Bible software, this popped up:

So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God. (Hosea 12:6)

Basically, He is telling me to stick with it, trust Him and don’t stop loving this person. Justice means doing what is right, giving up what I want (my own peace of mind) and trust God to do what He wants done, both in my life and that person’s life. I don’t know the whole story, only my emotional reactions — and they are not a reliable guidance.

The Bible has many instructions to wait. Most of them challenge my impatience. I want it now, like a kid looking at the cookie jar, or worse, like a person in pain who wants the pain to go away. Still, the Word says:

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! (Psalm 31:24)
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. (Psalm 62:1)

God’s timing is always perfect, even if mine is ‘now’ and I am suffering in the waiting. It is no coincidence that this “Verse of the Day” popped up on the right day in answer to the prayer I said only a few minutes before. 

PRAY: Last night someone notified me that I was missed in the text messages about a meeting that is today. She noticed and sent the information to me so I would not miss it. That is You at work, taking care of me. In the afternoon, I was working on a project and made a mistake, or so I thought. It turned out to be the right thing. That is You at work too. Every day Your timing is right. As the OT prophet said, with Your help I can return to trusting You. I know it is not right to pressure people to do what I want. You will take care of that person, and me too. Enable me to hold fast and be patient as I wait for You.

Thankful. . . .

A quote this week has had a remarkable effect, not just on me but on those who hear it. The quote: “Every thing that is wrong in the world would be settled if everyone was thankful.” I shared this with friends whose stunned reaction was silence, some with mouths open at the implication of what thankfulness does to all our vices. Another said, “Yes, instead of greedy.”

For me, I’m thankful for salvation and all that God has done in my life. I realize that if the bad stuff didn’t happen I would never know how He could use it for good. I’m thankful for my mother’s mantra: “We must need it or we would not be getting it” — her expression of trusting God for even the trials of life. I’m thankful for the Word of God and that He reveals Himself. This covers much, as the Bible says:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:24–25)

Sometimes I’m impatient with those who moan because they do not have what they ask God for, as if they know what is best and the best timing for it. As Piper writes, God’s timing is “well-timed” and we can depend on Him for all things.

This includes the weather, the government, and even the wisdom and understanding I need while living in this very messy world. His truth keeps my heart stable when I think how. . . .  
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; (Daniel 2:21)

This faith in Him is the product of my doing? Not at all. I can moan too. It is His grace and goodness, a wonder that is amazing yet so humbling. I do not deserve even the least of His blessings, yet He keeps blessing and gives the invitation to come close to Him in confidence to receive more — including His perfect timing.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

This does not negated problems, trials, emergencies, difficulties, and sorrows. Heaven will, but here these happen. How else would I know that God can use even the worst of experiences for good? His sinless Son was murdered. He could have stopped it. Instead He used it for the best thing that ever happened. How can I know that His power is like that? For that incredible event, but also for the evil things since then, and for the unpleasant and unwanted things that happen to me? He is not helpless nor standing idle. He is God.

PRAY: Oh Lord, so often Your people forget or doubt Your amazing power and wisdom. You can take bad and use it for good. This includes everything. I cannot see what Your plans are, nor know how You do it, but because of what You reveal about Yourself, I can trust You. In doing so, my heart is filled with the joy of being contented and thankful. Such grace, such wonderful grace.

Impatient with God?

Being impatient with God's timing is a common response when prayer isn’t answered as quickly as it is prayed. This week, one of our friends expressed frustration because he had prayed for what seemed an easy thing to happen and it didn’t. When someone said that the Lord’s timing is always perfect, he said, “Yes, but…” and I said, “Don’t say but…” because the word ‘yes’ and that word do not go together. Sadly he ignored me.

Today’s reading points to this verse, then Piper adds a more literal translation:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Piper says: “Let us approach with boldness the throne of grace that we might receive mercy and find grace for a well-timed help.” He explains this is literal and accurate. The traditional translation focuses on our need, but the literal one focuses on God’s timing.

I cannot criticize our impatient friend. How many times has God tried to teach me that I’m actually in His classroom when prayers are not answered! He wants me to trust Him, not my own idea of when something should happen. The need might be great but His timing is based on His far greater understanding and plan, not on my impatient fears or demands.

Jesus demonstrated this when His friend Lazarus became ill. When his sisters sent word to Him, He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. (John 11:4–6)

The disciples were perplexed and the sisters upset when Lazarus died, but Jesus was glorified by a greater miracle than healing. He called the dead man out of his tomb and restored him alive to the great consternation of His opposers and the great delight of all who followed Him. Yet they too struggled with His timing.

In His classroom, I’m being taught that He knows what I need when I need it. Sometimes it is a surprise, a blessing I didn’t expect or even ask for, but when He gives it, I realize that I needed it. It might be a small thing in the eyes of the world. Not long ago we drove into a very full parking lot and I said, “Lord, it would be nice to find a parking spot, but we can walk so whatever You think…” and at that, a space opened up right in front of the door where we wanted to go. Surprise!

I don’t always think about getting encouragement but He sends it when He knows I need it. I pray for safety when out driving. He hears and gives it. I pray for the salvation of many and He surprises me by drawing someone into His family that I’d not prayed for, to show me that He is still busy with those that I do pray for. . . . and teaching me to trust Him and demonstrate my trust with patience, no buts, just content that He will do what He knows is needed at the time that is best, not at the time of my desires.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

This verse is a surprise: God is patient toward me! He puts up with ‘but’ statements but does not give into them. He knows the best timing and will not give in to my nagging. I say nagging instead of prayer, because so many requests are just that, harassing God instead of trusting Him, and insisting it must be now rather than waiting because I believe that He knows best.

PRAY: Oh God, forgive my impatience when I ask for things that will make me more comfortable rather than trusting You to do what I ask when it will bring You the most glory. How delightful that You know best and that answers will come in ways and times that will bring great joy. Sometimes I’ve acted like a demanding and spoiled child, but You are at work using ‘wait’ to help me grow up and to be content in the process. Your help comes and I am learning to pray with the attitude of “surprise me” instead of the demand to “do it now” which is actually a statement of trusting my judgment instead of Yours. Such God-playing is a serious sin.

God’s timeliness

 

READ 2 Corinthians 1–4

Last night’s dream made me feel ashamed when I woke up. It was only a dream but God put my thinking right by a prayer I read right away — it was about how Jesus bore my shame. These ‘coincidences’ happen often. I might be upset one day and the Bible reading that day comforts me. We hear good news and God tells me to rejoice with those who rejoice. Because He touches me where I am, I know that the words He gave Paul for this second letter to the church in Corinth was touching their needs.

Obviously, they were suffering because the first section speaks of “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” and then tells them to use that comfort to comfort others so they will realize even affliction has purpose that God’s blessing can be shared. (2 Corinthians 1:3–7) That also is a comfort.

Paul’s example is his own experience of comfort in suffering. He told of being “utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” and “felt that we had received the sentence of death” yet God showed him that this “was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” Then he asked them to comfort him and his fellow workers by praying for them.” (2 Corinthians 1:8–11)

Later on, he talked about forgiveness; this must have been a problem for them. The timely warning told them if they remained that way they would be “outwitted by Satan” for this was one of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10–11)

These believers may have been discouraged over something or overjoyed about a victory too, but either way they needed to remember to thank God “who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” As they lived for Him, they would be the “aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life” but they could not do this themselves! (2 Corinthians 2:14–16) Later, this lesson was restated:

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:5–6)

This was their recurring problem, and mine. I cannot live in the power of the flesh (my old nature) nor by the letter of the law. Only the Spirit of God can enable me to live for Christ.

Paul reminded them of the OT saints who had the same problem. They could not see their need for grace either. It is “only through Christ” that blindness is taken away. Even as Christians, we know we cannot keep the laws of God and must keep our eyes on Jesus. This is because . . .

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:14–18)

I see spiritual blindness in those who do not believe and realize it is “the god of this world” that keeps them “from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” I also know that it was God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness” and who shone in my hearts to give me the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But I have this treasure in a jar of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to me. (2 Corinthians 4:3–7) When I get full of myself, God reminds me who I am and who He is!

For this reason, I must die to self for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in me. As Paul said to this church, I’m not to lose heart. My outer self grows old and wastes away, but my inner self is being renewed day by day. For this “light momentary affliction is preparing for me an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as I look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

Thank You, Jesus. You changed the first thoughts of my day into this gracious reminder of one day I’ll not have bad dreams or be upset with myself. Instead, I’ll be totally transformed to be like You.