There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4-5
Synchronize your clock with God’s sense of timing.
Before leaving the house for a trip, we have a physical and mental checklist to make sure that everything is packed. On a recent excursion, we had everything ready to go in our suitcases. We thought we were well prepared and on time, but we almost missed our plane. Literally, if I had chosen to eat a bowl of cereal, check emails, or any other activity (a good thing that I am bald and do not have any hair to fix), we would have missed the flight.
All of our preparations would have been for naught because we would have delayed our exit too long with unimportant distractions. We were casually leaving the house when we should have had a stronger sense of urgency. Timing is another aspect of our transitions we need to be very aware of as we move forward in life. Identifying your next move is just as important as choosing the right timing.
When you read the Bible, there are so many examples of people either procrastinating or trying to run ahead of God’s schedule. The right action at the wrong time can be a dreadful combination. Even the right words spoken at the wrong time can leave us with regret.
Moses demonstrated his impulsiveness trying to instigate God’s good rescue prematurely. Later in the process, Moses chose excuses in an attempt to delay and ultimately avoid obedience to God, (Exodus chapters 2-4). Can you relate? Avoid these two extremes. Start by fully submitting yourself to God.
I have the ability to run ahead of God’s timing and try to do too many things at once. Riding in the backseat, one of my boys noticed a box of pizza falling off the roof of our car. I thought I was successfully managing my tasks and quickly returning home to present dinner to my wife.
Leaving the meal on top of the car as we drove away was not part of the plan. Seeing our pizza scattered on the road was confirmation that my pace was not that brilliant after all.
Realize if you naturally rush too fast or move too slow without His help. Listen to the Holy Spirit, the exhaustion in your body, and friends who have your best interest in mind.
God’s timing is reliable even when it is counter-intuitive. Peace of mind is yours when you admit God has the wisdom and perspective to choose the most effective schedule and rhythm.
Are there signals that you are rushing ahead or falling behind God’s pace?
Excerpt republished with permission from A New Season by Jesse Bradley c. 2013.
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