June 21, 2022
Trusting God’s Timing
Kelly Balarie
Today’s Truth
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV).
Friend to Friend
Nearly all vacation long, I couldn’t stop worrying. I don’t know why I was worried; it was a small issue in the grand scheme of things, but, still, I kept thinking back to home…to the flowers I planted before I left. I knew the white variety that lined the front hedge of my house would be fine; the rain would hit them. But the purple ones, under my porch? Oh man, I hoped they would live. I really hoped they’d live. Those little purple flowers bring me such joy. Many a morning, I snuggled up with a hot coffee, my bible and a clear view to those cheer-me-up flowers.
But what would happen after a week with no water? I didn’t want to think about the repercussions.
So, I let go of worry, because that’s really all one can do if they want to experience joy. I moved my thoughts away from plants and decided to enjoy my vacation. But, when I got home from the long trip, all I could see as I pulled into my driveway was… the way-wilted and dried-up purple flowers that looked about as sad as I felt.
I was so mad at myself. I killed those little joy-bringers. Those little symbols of hope and life —I ruined.
Dropping my luggage, I ran inside for water and dumped it in the lifeless pot. I prayed for little flowers and then lugged all my trip baggage inside.
Later that night, I checked in on them again; they looked the same. No change.
The next morning, I headed outside. And I could hardly believe my eyes! Somehow, some way, they didn’t look like they did yesterday. They didn’t look dead and frail. They didn’t look dry and wilted. They didn’t look sad.
Astonishingly, they were upright, vital, and purple. They were hopeful and happy. They were alive, despite every reason they should be dead.
How did this happen? How did these flowers defy death?
And – how did they do it on, of all days -- Easter morning?! My heart wanted to bust open at the seams. Was God trying to send me a message?
If He was, well, I got it: Truly, there is no dead thing God can’t raise to life again. Ask Lazarus. Ask Jesus. Ask us, before we were freed from hell by grace.
Easter, and this plant, remind me: God makes dead things come back to life again. He can do it to anyone or anything, anywhere, just like He did for those raised-up stems.
This means everything. This means there is no marriage God can’t save. There is no lost child God can’t bring home. There is no hopeless situation that God can’t raise up. There is no death God can’t defy. There is no sin-cycle He can’t break. There is no situation that is unredeemable...all thanks to Jesus.
These silly flowers remind me of the essence of the resurrection.
Jesus conquered death so we can have life. Jesus still conquers death, so we can have life.
Scripture says, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV).
God didn’t make those flowers of mine beautiful that evening after I first watered them. Remember? There was no change.
It wasn’t until the next morning that they started to stand up and come back to life. Likewise, Father God didn’t raise Jesus up until the third day. There is a timing to God’s beautifying. There is an hour to His release of power.
Will we trust Him, even in the waiting? Even when His timing doesn’t match ours? Even when His breakthrough looks different than we expect?
Truly, God makes all things beautiful in His time. He brings and blooms dead things back to astounding life again.
Let’s Pray
Father, I thank You that You love me. I thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus. I thank You that, through the cross, You have given me eternal life. I thank You that there is always hope. Will You help me to trust You more? Will You help me to lean on You in tough times? I need You, desperately I need You. Please bring resurrection life to any dead areas in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Where do you feel hopeless? What would it look like to experience resurrection life in that area? How might you begin praying about that very issue? How has God been faithful to bring life to you in the past? Thank Him.
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© 2022 by Kelly Balarie. All rights reserved.
Originally published Tuesday, 21 June 2022.
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