At The Appointed Time

One of the most challenging aspects of walking in faith is trusting in God's timing. I've yet to completely surrender to that aspect of faith. I struggle to leave the timing of things in God's hands. I feel like I am forever praying with this sense of urgency and when my prayers aren't answered in my time frame, I start to doubt.

"For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him." Ecclesiastes 8:6

The enemy uses those small windows of doubt to slip in and fill my head with all these feelings of insecurity and unworthiness. That doubt, if unchecked, grows into full blown anxiety. I start to believe that God is mad at me, that maybe I have unresolved sin in my heart, that maybe I'm not doing something I am supposed to be doing or maybe I am doing something I am not supposed to be doing.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:14

Those feelings are not from my Heavenly Father. The Lord is a loving father who has the very best plan already in place for my life. His timing, although difficult to understand at times, is designed to ensure that I receive His intended blessings and that His plan for my life is fulfilled.

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3

For the past couple of weeks, I've heard "at the appointed time" in my spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit is responding to my worries by reminding me that the Lord hears my prayers, He knows what we need and that He will deliver us and provide for us according to His perfect will and His perfect timing.

"He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.'" Acts 1:7

Unlike my all-knowing Father, I can't see what lies ahead. I don't know what the Lord has in store for me or my family but He does. He has a perfect plan in place for my life and everything He has in store is timed according to His perfect will for my life.

"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." Psalm 77:11

One of the ways I am able to steady my faith during the waiting periods, is I look back on the times that the Lord has delivered me, provided for me, strengthened me, healed me, encouraged me, comforted me or blessed me. He is an on-time God and He has proven that to be true over and over again in my life.

With Love,

Stacey