Timing is everything!

So many times in my life, I have waited for God to do something, to intervene in a situation, to relieve me from some pain or anguish.  So many times in my life, I have wanted God to do it now.  As I look back, I am still amazed that I actually thought God should do things in my time!  You see, God has His own completely different sense of timing - completely different from mine and from ours.  God tells us this through Solomon:

READ:  Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven" - these words have rung familiar over the years.  On October 29, 1965, a singing group called The Byrds recorded a song titled "Turn, Turn, Turn"; this song had as its lyrics the words of this Bible reading.  In fact, given the times (Vietnam war era), this song was often interpreted as a plea for world peace.  The song, originally written by Bob Seeger, is taken almost verbatim from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, with the exception of the words "turn, turn, turn" and the last line.  This is one of only 3 songs whose lyrics have been composed of large portions of Bible readings (the others being "The Lord's Prayer" by Sister Janet Mead, "Rivers of Babylon" by The Melodians, and "40" by U2.  An interesting aside: The Byrds' version distinguishes the song as the #1 pop hit with the oldest lyrics.  Many Biblical scholars believe Ecclesiastes 1:1 implies King Solomon as the book's author, which means we must give Solomon (born c. 1011 BC) lyrical credit for a number one hit!  Nice!

But I digress (although it's been an informative digression)...

Timing is important, isn't it.  If we look at all the things the Bible speaks about as having a certain time for, we see they are all appropriate at different times.  So this makes it easy to accept God's timing, right?  Um... well... not necessarily!  For our timing isn't always God's timing; in fact, it's often not God's timing.  We look at things with our finite minds, while trying to understand an infinite God - and it just doesn't work.  Our timing might get us in trouble, or cause friction, or make us jump ahead too fast with something.  We have to trust in God's timing.  And in order to do that, we need to discover and appreciate His timing.  If we doubt God's timing, and we believe in our timing, this can lead to disappointment, because God simply doesn't do things as we think He should do things, or at least with the timing we believe He should be doing it in!

• Have you ever "jumped ahead" of God because you just knew when something ought to be done?
• What things are you able to think of that have not happened as they should have, because you didn't wait for God and His timing?
• How difficult is it for you to "sit back" and wait for God, when you think you know when something should happen?

Life has a way of not happening as it should if we get ahead of God, not trusting in His perfect timing. 

And what about in your church (if you are fortunate to attend one!)?  Sometimes we in churches see what we think is a dire need, and we jump in feet first, eager to just do something now, not thinking of the consequences or whatever!  Not a bad thing, of course, but what about timing?  What about God's timing?  Taking time to think about this - to ask God to meet the need in His time - might save us energy, money, time, etc. - if we would just "wait upon the Lord", as the Bible tells us, we will have renewed strength to do what God wants to do anyhow, only in His time!

So next time you decide to do something, take a second, ask God if it's in His timing, and then let Him either tell you to do it now or wait on Him.  Remember, everything has its season, and there is indeed a time for every purpose under heaven!  It's all about God, remember, not us.  His timing, not ours.  His timing is perfect, which means His...

Timing is everything!


PRAYER
God, sometimes we think we know what to do and when to do it, but if we'd only asked you, you would tell us to wait.  Help us to be open to your timing, knowing it is perfect and ours is not.  Thank you for guiding and leading us. 
Amen.