About That Time

I have the quote, “faith in God includes faith in His timing” taped to the front door of my refrigerator where I’m encouraged to read it often. Trusting God’s timing is not always easy but it is always best. Scripture reassures us time and again that waiting on God is where blessings reside. Scripture also illustrates how we will often not understand God’s timing, yet understanding is not the goal as much as merely trusting is. For example, check out the following passage in Acts 9:36-37 (NIV) In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. (37) About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 

Note in the above passage where it states “about that time” and consider what that phrase is referring to.

About that time (the time that Tabitha seems to be at the height of doing good and helping the poor) what happens?! 

She dies!!!?! Does that make any sense to anyone?! After reading Acts 9:36 the LAST thing you expect “about that time” is for what takes place in verse 37!! 

Maybe you can relate. You prayed desperately for a right and everything went left. Sometimes it takes handfuls of nothing left, to recognize something right, afterall. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5 (NIV) “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV) On the heels of that last verse let’s proceed to the end of our story in Acts 9 specifically verse 42 (NIV).

After Tabitha is raised to life, verse 42 states, This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. If Tabitha had not gone through this “left” many would have missed seeing Jesus’ work through her life and thus been left out of Heaven! So what at first seemed to be the worst time to take Tabitha out of commission was in fact the best time for God to fulfill His ultimate mission through her life! 

If you read Isaiah 40:31 in the NIV it states, but those who hope in the LORD… the NLT states, But those who trust in the LORD… the ESV states, but they who wait for the LORD… If we do all three in the Lord (hope, trust and wait) we can’t go wrong! Hope in God includes hope in His timing, trust in God includes trust in His timing, But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) 

Our infinite God knows things we don’t and understands things we can’t so look to Jesus and remember about the time He displayed His love for you on the cross; remember about the time His power and everlasting new life was made available to you through His resurrection! About that time dear one, you know you can trust Him, so you can trust His timing; all the time.

God bless you muchly~ http://redeeminggrace991ministries.com