But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Galatians 4:4-5
God never does anything randomly. He doesn’t decide on a whim to take action. He has a plan, a perfect plan for everyone. And that plan has been laid out for all of eternity.
So often, though, we look at the way we make decisions and we try to put God in the same box. We assume that because we have knee jerk reactions to situations and circumstances, surely God does the same thing. But he doesn’t.
Did you notice the first few words of today’s passage? “When the time had fully come.” God had a plan to bring Jesus Christ to earth at a certain time. Jesus Christ came into the world at the perfect time, with everything arranged for the swift spread of the good news of God’s salvation that is available to everyone—including you.
God’s timing can be hard to understand. But it is perfect. If you are waiting on something from God, don’t get discouraged. Instead, look at the perfect timing of his son’s arrival, and trust that God has a perfect time for working in your life as well.
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. James 5:10-11
If we’re honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we are not patient people. So when God tells us to wait in response to our prayers, we have a hard time. Wait, in our vocabulary, carries with it a negative connotation. “Wait” means we actually have to be patient. And so often our patience runs short and is followed quickly by discouragement.
When that happens we need to remember that God has given us example after example in the Bible of those who had to wait on the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Maybe you’re waiting for an answer from God right now, and you’re beginning to get discouraged. If so, think about this: Not one person mentioned in the Old Testament ever got to see Jesus Christ. They never saw the fulfillment of God’s ultimate promise.
Yet, they waited patiently and hoped eagerly. They were excited about spreading God’s message and they looked forward to the day he would answer their prayers.
Don’t give up hope while waiting on God. He will fulfill his promises to you; just have the patience to wait.
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:40
Hebrews 11 is a book that captures the stories of many people who never got to witness the fulfillment of God’s promise of the coming Savior, Jesus Christ. They lived their entire lives waiting. And though they faced persecution, they held fast to God’s promise. They believed God and served him faithfully, even in the face of pain.
We may look at that reality and ask questions like, “Why would God allow those people to suffer? Why did he make them wait? Why not just answer their prayers and fulfill his promises immediately?”
The answer goes back to one simple, yet profound fact: God sees the whole picture.
None of us has the perspective on life that God has. He knew that while, yes, those people had to suffer for a season, there was a greater purpose behind it than they may have seen—his purpose.
Maybe you are facing a difficult time in your life. Or maybe you’re just waiting to hear what God has in store for you. You read God’s promises to you, but you wonder when those will be fulfilled. Don’t grow impatient with God. Know that he has “something better for us.” And remember, just because we may not see it doesn’t mean that something better isn’t there. It is! And God sees it before we do! Will you trust him?
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
The Apostle Paul was a man used by God in amazing ways. If anyone could boast and brag about all that he had done for Christ, Paul could. After all, this is the man who penned thirteen books in the New Testament!
God had an amazing plan for Paul. But there was something in Paul’s life that continually caused him trouble. Paul calls it “a thorn” in his flesh. No one knows exactly what the thorn was, but it was clearly an affliction that he faced every day.
Rather than using it as an excuse to turn away from God, though, Paul used the thorn in his flesh as yet another avenue to glorify God. Paul realized that the only reason he was able to do what he did was because of God’s grace and mercy and love. And Paul knew that even with the thorn, God’s plan for his life was greater than he could ever imagine.
You will go through difficult times in life. You will have problems and face tough situations. Don’t use those as excuses to turn your back on God. Instead, look for ways in which you can glorify God through them. And remember, no matter what you are facing, keep looking up.
Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. “Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.” Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?” “You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”
The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
There are times in life when we feel like we are all alone. And during those times, it’s easy to feel like there’s nowhere to turn. But no matter where we are or what we are into, when we turn to God, he will hear us. God is everywhere.
There is nowhere you can go where God is not. And because of that, when you call out to him for help, he will be there to rescue you. You may be facing some very difficult times. Life may not be exactly what you want. You may even feel like you’ve been pushed into a slimy pit.
If that’s you, remember that you are not alone. Don’t give up on God the moment that you need him most. Instead, turn to God in prayer and ask him to help you. Because when you do, he will lift you out of that pit and set your feet on solid ground. You will be able to walk forward with the strength that God provides you. And your prayers for help will soon turn into songs of praise. Just pray and see. I dare ya!
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27
God doesn’t want us to hold back when it comes to prayer. He wants our messy, emotional, turbulent prayers. He wants us to praise him when life is going well. And he wants us to thank him for his enduring love. But what about those times when we have no idea what to pray, when we can’t even come up with the words? Is it even possible to pray without words? According to the Bible, yes.
One of the greatest aspects of prayer is the fact that God already knows what is on our hearts and minds. And when we can’t think of the words to communicate our thoughts and feelings, the Holy Spirit will intercede for us. In other words, he will work in hearts and then communicate to God what we are processing, facing and feeling.
Don’t think that prayer needs to be scripted or rehearsed. You don’t have to develop the most beautiful sentences ever constructed or wait for the right words to come to mind. You don’t even need words. Simply open your heart to God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation. Because when you do, you’ll experience a freedom that goes beyond a script.
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him!
Job 13:15-16
Job was rich, powerful and prosperous. He had a large family, plenty of livestock and several servants. He was a man who feared God and served him completely. Everything was going well in Job’s life. In the world’s eyes, he was very successful.
Then, God gave Satan permission to test Job to see if his faith was real or merely the product of prosperity. And in just a few short days, the bottom dropped out of Job’s life. He lost his health, his family, his possessions and many of his friends. Job was suddenly, completely, unexplainably miserable.
But his faith never waned. And he never turned his eyes from God.
Job knew that God must have a reason for what was happening. He trusted God even in the face of ridicule, misery and persecution. And in the end, God provided Job with all he needed and more.
Things may go wrong in your life. But if that happens, don’t turn your eyes from God. Trust that he has a plan for your life. Continue to follow God’s plan. And in the end, God will provide you with all you need and more.
Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come to the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
Psalm 69:1-3
Many times we enter prayer thinking we have to say the right things, the right phrases, the right words. We think we have to hide our true feelings, especially in times of trouble. We don’t want to offend God, so we hold back from telling him how we truly feel.
But have you ever thought that by covering your feelings, you are not being truly transparent before him, and that that might offend him?
God doesn’t require that our prayers be organized and sanitized. He doesn’t want us to hide our true feelings.
The book of Psalms is an excellent example of being transparent before God. Time and time again, the author reveals his true feelings to God. He doesn’t hold back. He lets God know when he’s happy, hurt, sad and even angry. He is not disrespectful, but he is truthful in his prayers.
As you pray, whatever situation you are in, don’t hold back from God. Let him know exactly what you are thinking, exactly what you are feeling. Because as you do, you’ll begin to experience the freedom of a more honest and more intimate relationship with your Father, you know, the one that made you in your mother’s belly. If He made you, you can certainly trust Him to help you - even fix what may be wrong. He is waiting to hear from you!
