To my
readers: Even though I have not posted much this year, I remain
committed to sharing here about Jesus and helping you learn and grow in your
faith. I encourage you to check out (and like) Faith Journey with Kim: Growing in Christ Jesus on Facebook; join in the occasional discussion on the
posts there. I plan to post in the
future on a topic that the Lord placed on my heart several weeks ago.
What does it mean to be
delayed? What is the role of delays in
life? How does God work in and through
the times of what seems be quiet and absence of seeing God at work or hearing
His voice? These are good questions to
ponder when we struggle to see and to understand God’s will and way for us. The Scriptures are full of delays—delays that
God uses to bring about glory to His name and to show His incredible power and
authority.
Time is an interesting commodity—there
are 24 hours in a day for each person—however, our view of time and God’s view
of time are completely different. When
God is silent we wonder what is going on; we can rest assured that God is
present during the silent times. Delays
in our minds are not delays to God—He is there and still at work in us and
around us.
And Terah took
Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter
in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the
Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt
there. And the days of Terah were
two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
(Genesis 11:31-32 KJV)
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Now
the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of
thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land
that I will shew thee: And I will
make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing: And
I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee
shall all families of the earth be blessed.
(Genesis 12:1-3 KJV)
In Genesis 11-12 we read about the beginning of
Abram/Abraham’s journey with God. God
called Abram, an idol worshiper, to become the father of a great nation—Israel (and
all who come to faith in Christ). Abram
listened to God, however, he did not leave all behind as he was commanded. Abram’s father, Terah and his nephew Lot
journeyed with him and his wife, Sarai/Sarah.
This was not a good idea. Abram’s
journey to Canaan (the Promised Land) was delayed in Haran until his father,
Terah, died. Interestingly, Terah’s name
means “delayed”.
In the New Testament, delay is seen in Jesus’
ministry. In John 11 we read about Jesus
delaying a visit to His friends—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—Lazarus was very ill
and needed Jesus. Yet Jesus chooses to
delay His trip, so God would be glorified.
The delay allowed Lazarus to die.
While Mary, Martha, and their friends grieved this tragic loss, God was
at work. When Jesus and His disciples
arrived Lazarus had been buried for four days; yet Jesus did not see this as a hindrance. When Jesus called Lazarus back to life and
out of the tomb, God got all the glory!
Likewise, after the Apostle Paul’s dramatic conversion on
the road to Damascus, he spent three years in Arabia before going to Jerusalem
and meeting the Apostle Peter and James, the Lord’s brother.
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Neither went I up
to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and
returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I
went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles
saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
(Galatians 1:17-19)
Similar to Abram’s journey to Canaan—the Promised Land, the
story of Jesus and Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the Apostle Paul’s time in
Arabia, entries on this blog have seen many delays this year. However, that does not mean a lack of God
working in my life. During this rather
unplanned hiatus I have been learning, growing, developing in my faith and
actively serving the Lord. Moreover, I
am sensing some gentle, easy to miss/ignore nudges to grow and expand in
ministry. This will take time—time in prayer
to discern God’s desire, to vision, and to dream. Please watch, wait, and pray with me during
this season of discernment.
In the meantime, take comfort in knowing that God is always in control and during those
seemingly interminable times of delay, God is still there and still working for
you!
Please stay tuned for posts that will come in God’s time—God
is at work and has plans for this blog and more!
When have you experienced delays in your walk with the
Lord?
Please join with me in prayer:
Lord of Time, Thank You for the story of Abraham and others
clearly showing us how delays are not the end of the story, but are simply part
of the greater story You are writing with our lives. It is clear that You use delays to work in
the lives of Your children. Help us to
not fear and to simply obey Your clear word to us and wait on You to provide
direction at just the right time. Thank
You for using delays to grow us into the person You desire us to become. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
From My Heart to Yours,
Kim
