Tag Archives: wait on God

Sunday Scripture–God’s Timetable

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In a recent email exchange with a fellow writer friend I mentioned I have a problem with waiting on God’s timetable in my writing … and everything else if I was honest … even when I see evidence of God’s favor on what I’m doing.

For example: God gave me first place wins in all three of the stories I entered in the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in May 2017. In August 2017 he gave me a 9th place win in the Writers Digest Annual Competition, which truly is rather huge.

In between those events several writing pieces were accepted, and a compilation book with eleven of my devotions published.

With all the accolades and publishing credits God has blessed me with throughout the years I’ve been writing for him, you’d think I’d sit back and wait for God’s timetable in the elusive book contract I press on toward.

If you think that, you’d be incorrect. What is wrong with me?

So for this post, I’m going to reorient myself. Recalibrate, and look at several people God used in the Bible to accomplish his purpose according to his timetable, not theirs. Perhaps you’re in a place in your life where you need to push pause and consider the lives of the Israelites, David, Jesus, and Paul right along with me. Hopefully we’ll each be a little more willing to wait on God’s timetable as he choses to unfold it in our lives.

Instead of taking the Israelites the short way from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan through the land of the Philistines, God took them along the southern route. Even if they hadn’t rebelled and added years to their journey, this route was longer. Why did God do that? Because he knew the Israelites weren’t prepared to face the Philistine army. They weren’t strong enough. They knew nothing of war. In time they would, but not right then. They had to wait on God’s timetable, God’s plan, and God’s will.

David waited over a decade between the day Samuel anointed David as God’s chosen king to the day David claimed the throne. Why the long wait? Because God knew David wasn’t ready for the job. Sure. David had victories over Goliath and the bear and lion. Major victories in anyone’s book. But there was more he needed to learn to be God’s effective tool in conquering the land and establishing God’s people as his own. I’m thinking if David hadn’t spent so much time out there with his sheep, the world would not have the blessings of his psalms. God’s timetable. God’s plan. God’s will.

Jesus lacked nothing, yet he waited 33 years from birth to resurrection before God’s plan of salvation became reality. Why? I think maybe because humanity needed those years to understand the fulfillment of the prophesies about the Messiah. We needed those years to understand the reason Christ came to this earth, lived a perfect life, offered his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, defeated hell, sin, Satan, and death, rose from the grave, and ascended into heaven where he sits at his Father’s right hand waiting for the day God says, “Go get your Bride”. God’s timetable. God’s plan. God’s will.

After Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he did not receive his sight immediately, nor did he set out on a missionary journey as soon as he regained his vision. Even when Paul began his ministry to the Gentiles, there were times the Holy Spirit blocked his way and kept him from doing what Paul felt he needed to do, or accomplish. Like most of us, Paul needed to be humbled in order to be receptive to what God’s plan was for his life.

God’s timetable. God’s plan. God’s will.

How are you doing waiting for God’s timetable in your life? Do you find it easy or difficult?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (NIV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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While We Wait

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By Sandy Kirby Quandt

Right now I’m in a season of waiting … again …

In an earlier post, I mentioned the patience Noah needed while he waited for God to open  the door to the ark after the flood.

This post is inspired by the account of the disciples on the sea during the storm. (Matthew 14:22-33)

Among the many things I thought about as I reread this story was the fact Jesus sent the disciples out in the boat and told them to wait for him.

It wasn’t until the disciples had been in the boat since before sunset of the previous day that Jesus appeared to them walking on the water between 3:00–6:00 a.m.

There are numerous accounts in the Bible of people who waited for one thing or the other.

For years Hannah prayed and waited for the LORD to give her a child.

Anna and Simeon both prayed and waited to old age before God fulfilled his promise to allow them to see the Messiah.

The Israelites waited for someone to deliver them from Egypt.

Then they waited 40 years to enter the Promised Land.

David waited over fourteen years to become king.

We wait for children to be born.

We wait for the right job. Right spouse. Right home. Right economic climate.

We wait for unanswered prayers. Healing. Peace. Restoration.

We wait for that book contract. College acceptance letter. Prodigal to come home.

We hurry up and wait.

Let’s go back to the disciples in the boat on the sea during the horrible storm.

They had no other option but to wait on Jesus, did they?

They didn’t have the power to stop the raging wind and rain. They didn’t have the power to get safely to shore on their own. They had to wait no matter how long it took before Jesus arrived and saved them.

I believe it’s the same for us. Sure we can be like Sarah and Abraham, take things into our own hands and try to rush God into action.

Any other hands raised out there who’ve foolishly tried this?

But when the disciples waited, Jesus showed up at just the right time. He arrived at the exact moment that would prove who he was. The One with the power to calm the sea and command the wind to be still.

And while they waited perhaps their faith grew stronger. Perhaps their confidence increased. Perhaps they realized it really wasn’t about them after all, but about the Savior they loved and served.

What do you think? Is waiting something you find easy to do or is it difficult? I’m not real fond of waiting but I’m getting better at it. I’m beginning to realize I don’t have a whole lot of choice in the matter.

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

But I will watch for the Lord; I will wait confidently for God, who will save me. My God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (GNT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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One of my posts is scheduled to appear on Inspire a Fire October 6, 2015. Please stop by and check it out.

Knocking On Doors

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One of my devotions will be posted on Christian Devotions November 26, 2013. Please stop by and check out the site.

January 16, 2008, I submitted an article retelling the events of Pie’s seizure when he was 10-months-old, to a magazine I felt was a perfect fit. The article was not something the editor was looking for at the time, so she rejected it. AAGGHH!

All through 2008, I submitted that article to numerous magazines. All rejected it. Discouragement. I sent it out a couple more times, and met with the same fate.

I let the article sit in my files until May of 2012. I never gave up on it. I really believed what I wrote about how God brought me through an overwhelming situation, was something others would benefit from reading. So, at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, I showed it to an editor.

She liked it! She requested I submit it, and submit, I did.

October 21, 2012, I had an offer to publish the article. Yea, God!

July 10, 2013, “Letting Go” posted on Today’s Christian Woman Parent Connect.

If you’ve done the math, you saw this was a five and a half year journey of closed doors. But God…

He knew the people he wanted to read my article. He knew who it would benefit most. He orchestrated it all. Was I happy when the article kept being rejected? No. Was I discouraged? Yes. Did I give up? Not completely. I kept knocking on doors until one opened.

Oh, perhaps you’ll find this interesting…the magazine I submitted “Letting Go” to in January 2008? Today’s Christian Woman –print version before there ever was a digital version of the magazine. God’s perfect timing.

Are you in a place where you’re waiting for doors to open? Perhaps it’s a job. Perhaps it’s a health issue. Perhaps it’s concern for a family member. Release from addiction. Release from pain –however it is manifesting itself. Release from self-doubts.

Just as my article met with closed doors, there was a reason. There’s a reason for your closed doors, too. We don’t need to know that reason, though sometimes we’d sure like an explanation. What we need to do is keep knocking. Keep persisting. Keep trusting. Move through that door when God opens it. And stay put when he keeps it closed.

The Apostle Paul met closed doors, but he kept on knocking. He didn’t give up, and neither should we.

They (Paul and Silas) went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.

Acts 16:6-8 MSG

I wish you well.

Sandy

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