Timing..

What is the perfect time? Is there such a thing. If you are like me then waiting for the perfect time and perfect conditions to act can leave me in limbo. I do nothing as there’s always a reason to procrastinate. I can be great at procrastinating when I’m minded to it. If it were an Olympic sport then just hang that gold medal around my neck now. No contest.

Will the conditions ever be perfect for what I want to do. What if they’re not. If I’m waiting to be the perfect Christian with it all together before I serve the Lord or step out in faith then that day will never come. I’m still a work in progress. It becomes all about me rather than about Jesus and the work of Christ in me. I rely on me and not Him.

We all have bad days and times and seasons when there is bad news and then it seems more bad news. Difficulty on difficulty. Hope seems far off but we cling to that hope. We find ourselves in a place and time when we just think (wrongly) nothing good can happen or the Lord can’t use me until I’m in a great place.

Fear not if you are in that place today – don’t give up and persevere. God is at work.

I’m so encouraged by the timing of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand which we read in the gospels. It wouldn’t seem to me the right timing or condition for a miracle. Jesus had just heard the terrible news about John’s murder at the hands of Herod. His cousin has been killed. He is mourning and takes himself off to be alone in His grief but the crowd follow him.

“So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion”

Jesus is in not only a place of grief but also in a barren deserted place (a wilderness) but He allows himself to be compassionate to the needs of others around him whose needs are greater. This is my Saviour. What an example. May I take my eyes from my circumstances today, what I think are the limitations, and show the same love and grace to others to be used for whatever purposes the Lord has in mind. May I be interruptible today and see what is around me. Thank you Lord that you are perfect. Your timing is perfect and I can trust you.

Have a blessed weekend my friends.