God’s timing is not always our timing.  How many times do we find ourselves asking God “when?” and then sit around waiting for an answer.  If you’re like me, you like to know the details.  Who, what, where, when, and why are some of the most important questions that can be asked and, especially, answered.  Yet so many times in life we find that God does not provide the answers to those questions, at least not when we’d like.  Instead, we are left to wait and trust Him…and that can stretch us!

If you had the opportunity to hear the message yesterday, you may have noticed that I referenced the story of Job twice…mostly because I’m reading through the book of Job right now!   It occurred to me this morning as I was reading that the story as we experience it is probably quite condensed.  We meet Job, hear how great a guy he is, watch everything come crashing down, and then observe his responses all within a few short chapters. While scripture does tell us that the calamities did come swiftly, I find myself wondering how long he suffered before his friends came to comfort him (or at least attempted to).  How long did Job endure the hardships before God spoke up?  How long did Job wait to see God restore him, his household, and his family?  It was probably longer than the few minutes it takes me to read the account!

When we face trials and the unknown, we always want to see God bring the answers and the solutions right away, if not sooner.  Yet sometimes we need to be stretched, our faith tested, so that we can grow through the experience.  James tells us at the very start of his letter (1:2-3) to “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”  It’s hard to consider struggles as “pure joy” but I do want to grow and mature as a follower of Jesus and that comes with work!

As you go into this week with the unknowns in your forecast (both weather and personal!), I would challenge you to simply acknowledge that God is in control.  He knows the plan. He knows the start, middle, and end of it.  And He’s got your back!  Trust Him to take care of you even when you don’t have the answers!

In Christ Alone,

Pastor Jan