TIMELY His

I dropped my son off at kindergarten one morning and went for a walk. I almost gave up on the endeavor, after a lengthy, last-minute phone call had delayed me; nevertheless, I headed up the residential street on foot as the morning sun attempted to suck the previous night’s rain from the earth. I passed a very tall, stout, elderly man on the sidewalk and said hello, continuing on my path.

As I reached the next block, I heard the unmistakable sound of someone falling. I turned and saw the man I had passed sprawled on the sidewalk with mud smeared all around him. I ran his direction only to see him try to stand up, then fall once again. The mud was too slick for him to gain his footing. I yelled at him to stay still until I could reach him. I made sure he was conscious, with no broken bones, and no profuse bleeding anywhere. He desperately wanted to get back up, but 5-foot-nothing-Me trying to lift 6-foot-2-and-200-hundred-plus-pound-helpless-man seemed impossible. No one else was around, and he was determined to get upright. All I could do was try to help him.

So, I said a prayer, assumed a squat position behind him with my arms under his armpits, and lifted with all my might. Somehow (GOD is how) we both stood upright without falling again. He thanked me and we walked together until I was sure he was okay.

Timing is everything. Had it not been for my phone call that morning, I would not have been walking at the time or place God needed me to, so I could help that straanger.

God’s timing, according to scripture, remains a mystery to us. In Acts 1, verse 7, Jesus says, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” We humans don’t typically embrace “not knowing.” We’d much rather hold all the answers, or so we think. If we could just know the ending, we could better plan for the journey, right?

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9

When I really think about it, I know I’m better off with future times, dates, and events hidden from me. I know I would make a bigger mess of things with too much information at my disposal. Yet, I still find myself fighting against God’s timing, forgetting that the very occurrences I consider distractions or delays, are actually the very fabric of His plans for my life.

I am striving to yield and even embrace God’s timing. For a planner like myself, it’s a challenge. I get frustrated and anxious when everything isn’t going according to my schedule. But I remind myself that my timing and His timing may not be the same. I remind myself of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, and how He makes everything beautiful in its own time. And as part of His creation, I have to believe that includes me, too. Only time will tell.

TIMELY His,

Nicki