October 13, 2005 January 23, 2010
This date may mean nothing to you. It didn’t really mean much to me until about fifteen minutes ago. That’s when (while reading an old blog) I came across an entry that mentions, for the first time, my interest in the missions program I belong to now. It was written over four years ago!
I was talking to a friend online a bit ago who had a timeline for missions that was completely changed on him. We were discussing how God’s timing is often very different from our own. That’s not always easy. In fact, it can be extremely hard. Often because we have a “I want it now” mentality. But have you ever looked in the Bible at the people who God spoke to? Have you ever seen how long they actually had to wait to see His promises fulfilled? I have a whole list that, of course, I can’t find right now of people God made a promise to and then how long it took for that promise to turn into reality. Seems often “waiting” is just how God operates. But, we get into this “blame God” attitude when things don’t go our way. But just because God promises us something doesn’t mean He’ll do it on our time table…or right away. He has reasons, that are far above what we could conjure up, for doing what he does and when. It’s just our job to trust and obey. He told me to go to the mission field. I said ok. Then I waited. And I got impatient and a little peeved. Um, hello…God? I said ok…what are you waiting for? To this day I still don’t know why I had to wait three years, but I feel God taught me a lot about trusting him. Being faithful and willing to do what He’s called me to do and let Him do it when He wants. Not that I’m an expert or perfect at this or have amazing, limitless amounts of patience. No way. Just ask those who ride in a car with me. It’s called a passing lane for a reason people!
But honestly, this is as good of a reminder for me as anyone. If we have surrendered our life to God, that should mean we trust Him to do what He wants WHEN He wants.
I’m doing a little bit of waiting right now. I should be on my way/in the Philippines right about now. That was the plan. My plan. I had it all worked out. Sounded perfect. I was ready. Then things happened to change that. So now my leave date has been pushed back a week or so. Thankfully, God gave me so much peace the day I found out and since. I just had this feeling that, for whatever reason, God was not surprised by this change in MY timing. Don’t think surprising him is really too possible. So if He knew, why get stressed?
I’m sure I’ll also be facing some waiting/patience tests in the Philippines as well. While I don’t look forward to them, I do look forward to learning more about the great God I serve. No matter how hard things get, He’s always enough. His grace expands to fit the need we have for it. Pretty remarkable.
So please, continue to pray for me as I embark on the next year….a year in Manila. And I pray that no matter where we are in life, we’ll be able to trust more and more on God’s timing. I guess that’s a lifetime kind of lesson but…well….what else do you have to do?