Godspeed: God’s Timing

As an accountant, I bill in five minute increments. While going through a difficult situation, I used the following quote:

Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my life’s problems at once.  (Anonymous)

I found that my waiting on God’s timing had to be measured differently, different than my usual worrying about the future. I began to look at the situation in the same way I do my billing. Sometimes, seeing things in small chunks of time was the best way to get through it.

“Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” Matt. 6:34 [The Passion Translation]

According to Merriam Webster: wait is to remain inactive in readiness or expectation.

Waiting is hard! I know that God’s timing is not our timing. I also know that a lot of people in the Bible had to wait for God’s timing for His plan to be fulfilled. So I began to wonder how long some of those people had to wait, in real terms.

1) Abraham had to wait 25 years for the birth of his son = 9125 days

2) Jacob had to wait 7 years to marry Rachel = 2555 days

3) Joseph in captivity in Egypt total days = 6205

1. a) 13 years in captivity = 4745 days
2. b) 2 years in prison = 730 days
3. c) 2 more years waiting on cupbearer to remember him = 730 days

4) Israelites were in Egypt 430 years = 156,950 days

5) David waited to become king 7 years = 2555 days

6) Daniel lived in captivity 71 years = 25,915 days

7) Prophetess Anna waited to see the baby Jesus 84 years = 30,660 days

8) Woman who had suffered from continual bleeding for 12 years = 4380 days

9) Man who had been born blind since birth. The book of John 9 does not give us his age at the time of his healing. But it does say in verse 21 that his parents said “he’s a mature adult.” According to some Bible scholars, the life expectancy for those who were not wealthy during the time of Jesus was estimated between 20 and 40 years old. So for the sake of this discussion, we will say the blind man was 20 years old = 7300 days.

10) Jesus was parted from heaven and continual communion with God 33 years as a human = 12,045 days

And how did all these people wait?

One day at a time!

Parts of Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 [The Message] states:

“Seize life! …God takes pleasure in your pleasure–Relish life…each and every day of your precious life. Each day is God’s gift…Make the most of each one. Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it…”

Jesus is our best example on how to live one day at a time, and how to make the most of the time you are given. John 5:19 [The Passion Translation] shows us how.

“So Jesus said, “I speak to you timeless truth. The Son is not able to do anything from himself or through my own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the Son does the same works as his Father.”

As a human, Jesus was dependent on God for direction and support. He said it was the timeless truth. I take that to mean, that it holds true today, just as much as when He was on the earth. How much more so do we then need the same direction and support?

I am also overwhelmed when I actually consider that He who is I AM before time began, would be willing to become so vulnerable by reducing the entire magnificence of himself into a single cell, intertwined with human DNA, to be born as a human to save us from our sin.

John 8:59, Jesus says, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” God lives in the present tense, because He is always living in the now.

2 Peter 3:8 [NIV] says “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

God views time in the light of eternity. He does not experience time in the same fashion we do, He transcends it. The dictionary says transcend is defined as: “To go beyond the limits of; exceed.” He is I AM before time. He is timeless. God goes, to quote Buzz Lightyear, “to infinity and beyond.”

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approached when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!”  (Hab. 2:3 [TLB])

God knows what need, and when we need it! So you can have peace and know whatever you are going through will not be overdue a single day! Give it to Him!

So I close by wishing you godspeed in all you are going through. According to Urban Dictionary, godspeed holds the intention of a personal blessing. The intent is to convey hope or desire to another person to successfully accomplish or complete a difficult task, mission, or journey either currently underway or about to be undertaken. That is my wish for you! That the speed of God will take care of you in His timing!

 

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