Seeing Far Enough Ahead
As I prepare for this Sunday's message at Shelby Crossings, I am reminded that God's ways are not like our ways, and His timing is surely not like our timing. As the Scripture reminds us, "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8)
That reminds me of a story I told in another sermon not too long ago, about the guy who goes to God and asks, "Is it true that in your riches a million dollars is like a penny to you, and in your timing a million years is like a second?" God answers, "Yes it is my son." "Okay, God," the man says, "Can I have a million dollars?" God replies, "Sure...just a second."
I don't know about you but the hardest part of my life of faith is waiting. Ultimately, the frustration at waiting if we get down to it, is a frustration at God's timing. Simply put, we don't always trust Him, when it comes to His working things out on our schedule.
Which reminds me of another story I heard about a little 8-year old boy named Frank. Frank had a date with his father to go fishing on Saturday. They were going to fish the whole day. On Friday night he had everything laid out. He was ready to go.
But on Saturday morning he awoke to discover that it was raining cats and dogs, and they couldn't go fishing. So, little Frank grumbled and griped and complained all morning long. He kicked the furniture, the dog, the cat. His father tried to explain to him that the farmers needed the rain, but that didn't satisfy Frank. "Why does it have to rain today?" he asked.
About noon the clouds broke and the sun came out. His dad said, "Well, we can't go fishing all day, but at least we can fish this afternoon. Let's go." So they jumped into the truck, went to the lake and fished all afternoon, and caught more fish than they had ever caught before. Their baskets were full, and they had the time of their lives.
They came home and mom cooked some of the fish for supper. As they were sitting down to eat, Frank's dad called on him to ask the blessing. Eight-year old Frank prayed this prayer: "God, if I sounded a little grumpy earlier, it was because I couldn't see far enough ahead."
That's usually the issue for all of us. We just can't see far enough ahead, and we don't have the vantage point, outside of the boundaries of time, that God has. He has a purpose and a plan, He can see "far enough ahead," and His timing is perfect, even if we don't always understand.
I hope you'll trust Him today, and that you will allow Him to grow your faith and patience and perseverance through the process of waiting.
