Every Thursday I feature a “throwback” post from my blog archive. The goal is to look back and discover new lessons or opportunities to grow. This week, we’ll look at “Rock, Paper, Scissors” You can view the original post here. For today, here’s a quick recap and a few more thoughts about the importance of trusting God’s timing.
In the original post, I share a vision that the Apostle Peter received from God regarding things that are clean or unclean. In a parallel moment, a gentile named Cornelius receives a vision telling him to visit Peter. Both of these men got half of the picture and it took both of them acting on it to put the pieces together and discern what God was saying. While the original post was about acting on the things God tells you even when they seem a little weird, it also got me thinking about the timing of it all.
If Cornelius had waited a few days to go see Peter, he may have already moved on. If Peter got ahead of himself and left the house he was at trying to figure out the vision, he may have missed Cornelius. If the owner of the home had refused to let Cornelius in, it would have created an awkward situation for everyone and again, thrown off the timing of it all.
I have been thinking a lot about timing lately. There have been quite a few moments in my life over the last few months and years where the timing of a situation has been the single deciding factor in favor of, or in opposition to, an opportunity in front of me.
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A great example of this is when my wife and I got the opportunity to join the Apartment Life team in our city*. In order to serve with Apartment Life, you must live in the community in which you serve. For my wife and me, this meant we needed to move. This wasn’t just any move, it was one that required the timing to work out pretty perfectly. If we were in the middle of a long-term lease or owned a home at the time, it wouldn’t have worked.
On the other side of the coin, we have two kids who really do need their own rooms. If the community we were moving to didn’t have a place available, again, it wouldn’t have worked. Thankfully, all of these things aligned almost perfectly and we were able to accept this amazing opportunity. Because the timing worked, we are all in living in community with new people and loving residents like Jesus does while hopefully showing them who He is.
Timing can be a great way for us to navigate decisions in our daily lives. If the timing is off, more often than not, God is trying to tell you something. When I look at opportunities whether speaking engagements, hanging out with a friend, connecting with another ministry leader, or even in navigating the seasons in which I was looking for a job, I have often prayed a prayer similar to this: “God, open the doors you’d have me walk through and close the doors you’d have me avoid.” This prayer has proven pretty powerful and God has been faithful every time I have prayed it. One of the key ways in which he has closed those doors has always been timing. If the timing is off, the door is usually closed.
This happened to the Apostle Paul in Acts 16. It reads,
“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.”
Acts 16:6-8 (NIV)
Paul had plans and goals to preach the gospel in Asia but it wasn’t time. The passage goes on to say:
“During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
Acts 16:9-10
Paul saw Asia as an amazing opportunity to preach the Gospel. He wanted to go into that part of the world and make disciples. On the surface, this seems like a perfect mission for him. I mean, that is pretty much exactly what Jesus told His disciples to do upon His ascension to Heaven. However, God had need of Paul elsewhere. If Paul had been in Asia, he wouldn’t have been available to do the work God called him to do in Macedonia. The short version of that story is that he met an influential business leader who basically funded a church plant.
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What does this mean for you and me? First, it means we should trust in God’s timing. It can be a challenge to do this and, as per usual, I need this message to land in my heart today. My natural inclination is “Go!” Honestly, if God didn’t intervene regularly, I would never stop going. But, I have to come to trust that God is sovereign and His timing is always perfect. Always. Every time.
Second, know that when doors close, God is usually protecting you from something negative, or pointing you toward something even better. I have a sticky note on the wall of my office that says, “God’s ‘No,’ always leads to a better yes.” It is a constant reminder that when God closes a door, it is because there is a better door for you that is waiting to swing wide open. When God says no, there is something better for you that he is excited to say yes to. As an aside, that “better yes” might be a yes to staying exactly where you are doing exactly what you are doing. Don’t get discouraged by the “no,” be encouraged by the better “yes.”
Finally, know that closed doors aren’t always locked. Sometimes God uses timing to say “No,” and sometimes he uses it to say “Not yet.” Again, in these seasons, we simply have to trust Him to guide us. So, how do we know if it is a “No,” or a “Not yet?” You stay in communication and community with God. Paul continued to let God lead and guide him to where God wanted him to go. Eventually, Paul even made it back to Asia. But, it was in God’s timing, not Paul’s.
As you look at your life, where do you have the most trouble trusting in or yielding to God’s timing? Is it at home? Maybe you really want to purchase a home or really want to move to a new place but it the right situation remains out of reach. Is it at work? Maybe you are longing for an opportunity that never quite seems to come together. Is it in relationships? Maybe you really want to find a spouse or really want to have kids but the timing just hasn’t lined up. I want to encourage you to Trust God. His timing is always perfect. Lay down your hopes, your goals, and your dreams before Him. Allow Him to lead guide and direct your steps. Delight yourself in Him. And I promise, when you do, He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4)*.
*If you’re not sure what Apartment Life is, it’s an awesome organization that serves apartment communities by helping them increase resident retention while also pointing residents toward Jesus and the local church.
*Make sure you read that verse in its full context. I, nor the verse, never said, “He will give you whatever you want.”
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