A wise woman told me, “God’s timing is perfect.” Had I heard that many times before? You bet. But this time it made me angry. I knew something was up with the way I was reacting internally. Then it came again, “God’s timing is always perfect.” It was not a cliché. It was not just a little pat on the back as if to say something, when you don’t really know what to say. It was a wake-up call, the Lord was making sure I heard it the way He intended it to be said.
Instead of remaining angry, I melted when the Lord repeated Himself. I couldn’t help but start to cry. Whenever God repeats Himself, it is time to perk up our ears and tune in. There is always a reason for repetition.
I was right where the rubber meets the road. God’s timing was clearly not jiving with my timing of how He was going to bring our family into the new home as well as the provision He had promised. The way He had for us didn’t seem to make sense and I wanted it to be ‘easier’. In my head I knew that God’s timing is always perfect. It’s easier to believe this to be true especially when everything is running smoothly. But is it also true when things weren’t going well or when life is turning out differently than expected.
Many times in my life God has spoken of plans and dreams that He has for me. Some happen right away but quite often, they don’t. Quite often there is a journey that I must take to be able to lay hold of the dreams that He has for me. If I get to the promises fulfilled before the necessary internal items are taken care of, I won’t be able to handle all the Lord has for myself and our family. So much of our life is training, preparation and more preparation because He is committed to our success! HE wants us to succeed! (Rom. 8:31)
The choice is ours with regards to the outcome of our difficulties, our perceived expectations, our disappointments, and our problems. In James 1:2-4 (MSG) it says, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” I had come too far to let this trip me up. I laid down my expectations and said, “No way am I going back! Onwards and forwards I’m going with you Jesus. It’s Your Way!” I wanted God to grow me up so I could grasp all of the nuggets of gold, He planned to give me! It is definitely not easy, but so worthwhile!
Have you ever watched a mountain goat climb up the side of the mountain? I have watched while little edges break under the weight of its feet, teetering little edges, watching as rocks fall off the dangerous precipice and yet the mountain goat plods on. God is training us up in this way, giving us “hinds feet.” The mountain goat isn’t paralyzed by the unstable footing or the ground beneath. God made that mountain goat to keep moving despite the difficult task.
There a number of places in the Bible where God talks about “hinds feet” but I particularly love the verse in Habakkuk 3:19 AMPC where it says, “The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!” Wow!
God’s promise is that He teaches us how to do Life, His Life being lived out in us and through us. Walking in His strength, in His Peace, in His joy. All of this takes practice. Will we make mistakes? Absolutely! But God is gracious with you, far more gracious than you are with yourself. May you walk and not be shaken by all that is coming at you. May you make progress in whatever difficulties you face! Let Him train you up because His timing truly is perfect and He knows exactly what He’s doing!
