In Hs Time
By Susan Klein
“We do not know
what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
2
Chronicles 20:12b (NIV)
A
friend of mine recently petitioned many of us to pray for her. She was in a
dilemma about a job situation and felt God had not been giving her clear
guidance in the matter. Since she felt a certain urgency to make a decision,
she did what most of us would do. She asked her girlfriends to pray. In her
request, she shared the two choices that she was presented with, not knowing
which one to follow. As I watched the responses accumulate in our group
message, some of them included opinions as to which job might be best suited to
her needs, as well as heartfelt promises to pray for wisdom in her decision.
Then one response read: “I have my opinions, but they don’t really matter.
Sometimes you have to just step in the water before God parts the sea! Seek His
direction and then move forward. He will open or close the waters.”
How
many of us can relate to times in our lives when we’ve felt pressured to make a
quick decision, so we rally the trusted troops to come alongside of us to pray
and give us wise counsel? While we clearly see this action displayed in
Scripture, sometimes God does not answer in our time constraints for a reason.
We can petition our hearts out and still not hear from Him as soon as we
believe we need to. All things happen according to His will, and in His time.
Our faith, and the faith of those watching us can be greatly strengthened when
we are forced to make a decision trusting blindly in Him. He may provide an
answer right at the final second, or He may sit back and challenge our faith by
not answering until we have already made our choice. He is eager to see us
exercise our faith in the matter so that others might behold His glory, just as
they did in Joshua
chapter 3. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant were instructed to
enter the Jordan River while it was at peak flood stage. God did not part the
waters for them to cross over before they entered, but after they set foot in the raging river. They
walked in by pure faith and obedience, and He acted in His perfect timing.
Next
time you’re faced with making a quick decision and don’t feel your prayers are
getting a clear answer, seek God and then move forward, allowing your faith to
be strengthened.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
In what areas might you be stuck, waiting for an answer?
2.
Will you dare to go forward, unsure of the outcome, but trusting God anyway?
FURTHER
READING:
Susan enjoys
teaching Bible studies, writing, and mentoring. She and her husband Mark enjoy
opening their home to those in need. They also co-lead an on-site small group
studying 1 Corinthians with Oakwood’s Wednesday Night Community.
