Our clocks do not often match God’s calendar.
“No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11 NKJV.
My thoughts and comments are about “your clock and God’s calendar.”
I think anyone who knows God fully believes this truth: “No good thing will God withhold from those who walk uprightly.” A loving and giving God would not choose to withhold what is good. The problem lies in determining what is good for you. God promises to provide what He deems good for His purposes in your life and at the time He knows will be best.
The most bountiful giving can never impoverish God. God is no poorer for however much He gives. With our limited resources, you and I might desire to give what another needs, yet lack the ability to do so, but that certainly is not true of God. God has desire, capacity, and ability to give. And His gifts will be, “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.” Luke 6:38 NIV.
Describing a child asking their father for good things, Jesus explained, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? . . If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.” Read Matthew 7:7-11 NIV. In Jesus examples, a son was asking what the father desired to give – good things.
There are times when life seems to trample on the truth. Painful realities intrude into daily life, and even worse, they linger longer than you feel you can bear. Most people can manage slight pain for a lengthy time, or even severe pain briefly, but who can bear the greatest of pain for the longest of time? Our clocks do not often match His calendar. Pain and delay challenge your belief until you cry out, “Where are the good gifts the father gives . . where is the good thing God will not withhold?”
The Apostle Paul wrestled with that kind of physical and emotional pain from an undescribed, “thorn in the flesh,” and physically languished in a Roman prison, while what would appear to any of us as being “a good thing” seemed to be withheld. The answer Paul received is also God’s answer to you and me, “My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness.” See 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NKJV. God’s abiding and abundant grace will be far better than momentary relief. Confidently, Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NKJV. I want to live with undoubting confidence and tenacious faith.
Here’s the challenge. When the real need of your moment remains unmet too long, you will wonder or ask why. The unwanted, unanswered question will press its way into your thoughts. Emotionally, there is a progression from wondering how your need will be met to worrying if and when the need will be met. Your heart knows God will provide, but you struggle when you don’t know when.
Those questions are emotionally difficult when God appears to remain silent. There is only one answer for the times in life when all you know about God doesn’t match the reality you are presently experiencing. We measure life by moments, minutes, and hours; God measures our lives by eternity. That’s when you must look up into the face of a loving and gracious God and say with all your heart, “My times are in your hands!” Psalm 31:15 NIV. Know this; either God has something far better when you would settle for less right now, or your need is not what you really need at that moment. When you don’t know when, God does. He is always on time, never late. He is ever gracious and giving.
Today, I pray for you to be sure your clock and God’s calendar agree.
Christian Communications 2016