“The Timekeeper”
When waiting on God for what He was leading me to draw, I became anxious and panicked in the waiting. With every day that went by, I was agonizing over the time lost waiting for an idea when I can be working. In those few weeks, however, I was taught a lesson in God’s divine timing. In this time waiting on God, I was seeking Him in prayer and reading the Bible, trying to steward this time the best I knew how. Through this time, the Lord broke chains that were weighing me down for years. Through these weeks of waiting, I was reminded of the fact that time spent with the Lord is never a waste. If I had not had to wait for inspiration for so long, I would still be bound in that area of my life that He has set me free from. Ironically, when I came to this revelation, the idea for my next drawing came with it. In this drawing, it depicts God holding time in his hands, symbolized by the pocket watch. His hand is holding it loosely, showing no worry or exertion. My own hand, however, is white knuckling time, trying everything in my power to control it and bend it to my will. All this effort and striving, however, leads nowhere and I am no further along than I was before, with the watch in the same place it always was.
When we are waiting for a long time and our prayers seem to go unanswered, it is easy for doubt to creep in. Some may even get angry with God because He didn’t meet their expectations and bring breakthrough when they deemed it necessary. I know I have done this in the past. It is important, however, to remember that God’s timing is perfect and that there is purpose in all He does. Numbers 23: 19 states, “God is not a man that He would lie, nor a son of man, that He would change His mind. Has he said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” We can see many examples in the Bible that show times of extended waiting where God seemed to be silent. He, however, never forsakes His people. To name a few, Abraham and Sarah had to wait twenty-five years for God’s promise of giving them a son. Moses had to wait forty years to lead Israel out of the captivity of Egypt. In the story of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery. He waited for his freedom for thirteen years before becoming Prime Minister of Egypt. Even Jesus waited thirty years before beginning his public ministry. In all these instances, God came through at the perfect time to raise them up for His glory. In the devotional, Soulful Devotions, it states, “We must remember that God’s delays are not a sign of His indifference or reluctance to act. Instead, they are opportunities for more significant miracles, for deeper faith, and for His glory to be revealed. Just as Jesus delayed his visit to Lazarus to show his power over death, God’s delays often set the stage for something extraordinary” (Soulful Devotions, 2024).
Although the process of growing in patience in the waiting is frustrating, it is necessary in growing our faith and trust in God. It is important to note that we cannot passively practice patience. The Soulful Devotions devotional stated, “It is an active choice to trust in God’s faithfulness even when our circumstances are filled with uncertainty.” Giving in to our doubts, impatience and need to take control of the situation will only bring more frustration and disappointment. Charles Spurgeon has stated, ‘We make up our mind what we are going to do, and often we go down on our knees, and say, "Lord, show me what I ought to do," and then we follow out our intention and say, "I asked God's direction." My dear friend, you did ask it, but you did not follow it, you followed your own. You like God's direction so long as it points you the way you wish to go, but if God's direction lead the contrary to what you considered your own interest, it might have been a very long while before you had carried it out. But if we in truth and verity do confide in God to guide us, we shall not go far wrong, I know’ (Spurgeon, 1857). Although waiting is seen as counterproductive in the fast-paced society that we live in, when we give in to our doubts and try to control things on our own when God says “wait,” this is when things can start to go south. In our time of waiting, we must seek the face of God, growing in our relationship with Him and allow Him to do the work in us that He needs to do. There may be strongholds that He wants to break you free from as He has done for me.
References
Smith, F. P. (2001). NASB bible: Reference, burgandy, bonded leather personal size. Zondervan.
Spurgeon, C. (1857, August 2). Waiting only upon god. The Spurgeon Center. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/waiting-only-upon-god/#flipbook/
Soulful Devotions. (2024, June 5). Leave it in GOD’S HANDS, God sees your PAIN and hears your CRY - God Knows That You Are Tired. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3At3x4Pg_k
