.png)
The book of Job is the account of a man who had it all, lost it all, wrestled with God and came out well on the other side of his adversity. Through his struggle, Job learned much about the God he worshipped.
One of the first things he had to confront was his misunderstanding of how God regards people and their actions. His thoughts mirrored those of many today—those who believe being right with God is like a balance scale in the hand of an almighty judge.
The concept is simple and prevalent: do good, and good things happen; do bad, and bad things happen. But this is not a correct view of God.
I’ve learned that God owes me no explanation— no neat teaching or proverb to slap onto the events of life.
I’ve also learned that God’s timetable is not the same as mine.
Years ago, I heard the old revivalist Vance Havner speak. Matthew 5:3-11 is often called the Beatitudes, but Havner spoke from Matthew 11:6, calling it the “13th Beatitude.” He paraphrased it this way: “Blessed is he who does not argue with God’s timetable.”
The principle of that verse can be applied in this way—and oh, how often we tend to argue with the timing God chooses for events in our lives. Or we argue about how He does things.
There came a time when I humbly turned to the Lord and bared my soul, submitting to His sovereign will and timing for my life. I had no idea then how much the things I learned would sustain me in the years to come.
Since that day, I’ve known greater hurt, darker days and deep sorrow. My pastor and husband died very suddenly one Tuesday afternoon—no warning, no illness. He was gone just two hours after we had parted that day.
True confession here: I don’t always like God’s timetable.
His ways often seem very slow, sometimes almost imperceptible. Yet He communicates encouragement and truth to keep me on His path when I stop to listen and acknowledge, once again, that He is the one in charge.
Our world is challenging and often dark. I pray God gives us courage to believe and trust Him. Remember, He is not offended or turned off by our questions, doubts or struggles.
May He give us courage, mercy and compassion.
Press on.
Until next week,
Anita
Onarecker, a writer, author and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.
