Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time and Sarah will have a son. Genesis 18:14
At first glance, Abraham's story looks far from my reality. An old couple, unable to have kids (yet they eventually do!). A righteous man who has conversations with God like they're the best of friends. A guy who has been chosen to become the "father of many nations". If you're anything like me, you might be thinking, "Yep, definitely doesn't relate to my life." But God opened my eyes today to just how relatable his story actually is to my circumstances.
You see, Abraham and Sarah couldn't have a child, but God promised Abraham he eventually would have a son, and that his descendants would be as numerous "as the stars in the sky". Abraham's faith is pretty inspiring. But his wife Sarah, upon hearing God's words that at that time the following year they would have a child, laughed. How can a woman, past the age of childbearing, give birth and then, to top it all off, raise a child? Would God really provide a child after so many years? Oftentimes we may relate to her lack of faith.
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It's hard to imagine the provision when it's nowhere in sight right now. It requires faith. Sometimes we may desire something so much that we turn to our own strength and power to bring that provision, but our reliance on ourselves and our own timetables results in us missing out on God's best for our lives. He loves us so much that He has delightfully and thoughtfully crafted a plan for each one of us, and it's through His divine appointments, His perfect times, that His gifts, His provisions, and His best plans for us will fall into place. When we rush His timing and bring along our desires now through our own doing, we miss out, and our plans will likely end in destruction in the end (this happened to Abraham and Sarah as well, as they decided to bring along their own child through Hagar, the maidservant, and this led to a lot of bitterness, mistreatment, and ultimately destruction).
In fact, God revealed this very concept not only through Genesis, but when I happened to pick up the book "Jesus Calling" and read the devotion for today:
Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. One of the main ways I assert my sovereignty is in the timing of events. If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the path forward moment by moment. Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace. (Sarah Young)
Wow. Let Him set the pace.
This couldn't have come at better timing. And the fact that I read this within the same hour as reading Genesis continues to show the essence of God's timing. He has set up divine appointments in each of our lives. He has placed the right people in the right places at the right times, all for a specific purpose that goes far beyond a plan that we can see.
Maybe you're like me and you're praying for guidance and direction about several things regarding your future, and it seems like God's provision isn't coming. Trust in His plans. He has already set up people, places, and events that will occur in His right timing. Have faith that at the appointed time, God will provide direction for your life.
Maybe you're single and you're waiting on that guy or girl to come into your life. Your prayers don't seem to be going much farther than your bedroom ceiling. Don't give up. Have faith that at the appointed time, God will bring that person into your life. His plans are bigger than you can see.
Maybe you've been praying for a length of time for a particular miracle: of healing, of finances, of a restored marriage, of a provision (maybe even a child, like Abraham and Sarah!). God told Abraham and Sarah that at the appointed time, that child would come, and sure enough, He is faithful to His Word. Trust that for you too, that provision will come at the appointed time. He is our Provider, our Healer, our Counselor, our Creator. He can do the seemingly impossible: restore sight to the blind, cure the incurable, raise the dead to life! Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible for God. It may not be the provision you were expecting, but He works for the good of those who love Him, and He will carry out His plans according to His perfect timing.
He is orchestrating events, placing people, and directing you to the right places, all according to His appointed times, His perfect plan. There are no such thing as coincidences when it comes to God. Have faith that wherever He has you right now, He is faithful to His Word. Let Him set the pace. He will provide at the appointed time!
