God's timing....
When God delays, He is not inactive. He is getting ready His instruments, He is ripening our powers; and at the appointed moment we shall arise equal to our task. Even Jesus of Nazareth was thirty years in privacy, growing in wisdom before He began His work. --Dr. Jowett
God is never in a hurry but spends years with those He expects to greatly use. He never thinks the days of preparation too long or too dull.
The hardest ingredient in suffering is often time. A short, sharp pang is easily borne, but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long, monotonous years, and day after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. Joseph's was a long trial, and God often has to burn His lessons into the depths of our being by the fires of protracted pain. "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver," but He knows how long, and like a true goldsmith He stops the fires the moment He sees His image in the glowing metal.
We may not see now the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall say, "All things have worked together for good." Like Joseph, let us be more careful to learn all the lessons in the school of sorrow than we are anxious for the hour of deliverance. There is a "need-be" for every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance will surely come, and we shall find that we could not have stood in our place of higher service without the very things that were taught us in the ordeal. God is educating us for the future, for higher service and nobler blessings; and if we have the qualities that fit us for a throne, nothing can keep us from it when God's time has come. Don't steal tomorrow out of God's hands. Give God time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never too late; learn to wait.
"He never comes too late; He knoweth what is best;
Vex not thyself in vain; until He cometh--REST."
Do not run impetuously before the Lord; learn to wait His time: the minute-hand as well as the hour-hand must point the exact moment for action. ~Streams in the Desert
This devotion really hit me. I love how God works like that! I had to read and reread this one to really let it sink in and I don't know, I may need to read it again....
There have been some heartbreaking things that have occurred in my life. I still love and miss my dad. I wish that things didn't have to turn out like they did. As it states above, my heartache seems to be dragging on. But, I know that God uses that pain for His good. And God has given me strength to deal with that pain. Everything happens for His purpose and I know He is shaping my character for things to come. My heart wishes to share those things that are coming with my dad, but I cannot. God knows that. He allows me to be sad about that, but then gives me comfort and strength to focus on His joy...One thing that will always connect my dad and our family is that we all serve, love, and worship the same God. No matter where we are physically or spiritually, we will always have that connection and one day we will all be able to worship together again in glory. :)
I encourage you to read and reread this devotional from Streams in the Desert and let it speak to your heart. While our family waits for further instructions from God, we will rest and be shaped into a usable instrument for His purpose. In the waiting times, God is preparing us for the busy times. I look forward to seeing how God will use how He has shaped me through sorrow and pain for His glory in ministry. :)
God is never in a hurry but spends years with those He expects to greatly use. He never thinks the days of preparation too long or too dull.
The hardest ingredient in suffering is often time. A short, sharp pang is easily borne, but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long, monotonous years, and day after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. Joseph's was a long trial, and God often has to burn His lessons into the depths of our being by the fires of protracted pain. "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver," but He knows how long, and like a true goldsmith He stops the fires the moment He sees His image in the glowing metal.
We may not see now the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall say, "All things have worked together for good." Like Joseph, let us be more careful to learn all the lessons in the school of sorrow than we are anxious for the hour of deliverance. There is a "need-be" for every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance will surely come, and we shall find that we could not have stood in our place of higher service without the very things that were taught us in the ordeal. God is educating us for the future, for higher service and nobler blessings; and if we have the qualities that fit us for a throne, nothing can keep us from it when God's time has come. Don't steal tomorrow out of God's hands. Give God time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never too late; learn to wait.
"He never comes too late; He knoweth what is best;
Vex not thyself in vain; until He cometh--REST."
Do not run impetuously before the Lord; learn to wait His time: the minute-hand as well as the hour-hand must point the exact moment for action. ~Streams in the Desert
This devotion really hit me. I love how God works like that! I had to read and reread this one to really let it sink in and I don't know, I may need to read it again....
There have been some heartbreaking things that have occurred in my life. I still love and miss my dad. I wish that things didn't have to turn out like they did. As it states above, my heartache seems to be dragging on. But, I know that God uses that pain for His good. And God has given me strength to deal with that pain. Everything happens for His purpose and I know He is shaping my character for things to come. My heart wishes to share those things that are coming with my dad, but I cannot. God knows that. He allows me to be sad about that, but then gives me comfort and strength to focus on His joy...One thing that will always connect my dad and our family is that we all serve, love, and worship the same God. No matter where we are physically or spiritually, we will always have that connection and one day we will all be able to worship together again in glory. :)
I encourage you to read and reread this devotional from Streams in the Desert and let it speak to your heart. While our family waits for further instructions from God, we will rest and be shaped into a usable instrument for His purpose. In the waiting times, God is preparing us for the busy times. I look forward to seeing how God will use how He has shaped me through sorrow and pain for His glory in ministry. :)
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