Trusting God's Timing
As Christians, we go through many seasons, each with its own purpose. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot...” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NIV)
Many of you have just come out of a wilderness season, a time of great testing, pruning, and stripping. Yet, after the pain, there is always healing and restoration. God took you through that season of pruning to prepare you for a great harvest. But what happens when you're standing in the aftermath, holding nothing but the vision God placed deep within you, with no physical evidence of your sacrifice?
It’s easy to grow weary when the fruits of restoration don’t come immediately. But remember:
"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19 NIV)
A while back, I watched a movie called The Forge. In the movie, an 18-year-old man was pushed out of his immaturity when his mother insisted he find a job and contribute to their home. Along the way, he became a man under the mentorship of a godly employer. One day, he showed his friend a car left behind by his father, a rusty old relic that seemed beyond repair. His friend laughed, pointing out that it wasn’t going to be his way to work. But over time, that car was restored. Piece by piece, it was transformed in the confines of a closed garage. The once broken-down, unusable car became a mint-condition classic.
This is what God does with us. We may feel like that rusty, dilapidated car, broken and left behind. But God is working on us in the hidden places, replacing parts that need restoration, sometimes having to custom-make solutions just for us. The process is long, and we, in our impatience, may cry out to God, feeling forgotten. Yet, He’s working the entire time—a little here, a little there, putting us back together again.
“For no word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37 NIV)
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)
The restoration God brings into your life isn’t rushed because His restorations are meant to last. He works on us piece by piece, ensuring that when we are made whole, we can function fully in His purpose.
The vision He gave you? It is for an appointed time.
"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV)
Waiting on restoration isn't easy, but God promises that the vision will come to pass. He never said the process would be quick or painless, but He did promise that He would bring you to the manifestation of that vision.
Be patient in this season. Restoration takes time, and God is faithful. Trust Him, even when you can’t see the progress.
Let’s embrace this season of restoration with patience, knowing God is doing a perfect work in us that will last a lifetime.