A few weeks ago, I got really excited about actually starting this new blog. I finally knew what the purpose was that I wanted to share. A thoughtful and encouraging word to those needing a kind word. I was excited as God had laid it on my heart to do this. My mother’s birthday was coming up, June 14th to be exact. I made a mental note that I wanted to start the blog by her birthday as a surprise to her. I had my housewarming party coming up on June 5th, so I was in the midst of planning for that, and between work and caring for a busy toddler, I did not have brain capacity to focus on what needed to be done to get a blog started. I looked online and printed a 56 page ‘how to start a blog’. That in itself seemed a daunting process. I delayed. Besides, I still thought there were a few things that God wanted me to know before proceeding. Mentally, I pushed the thought away, there is no way I could be ready by June 14th, I’ll just do it by month end.
I visited church on June 11th, the pastor showed me how I was using my multiple excuses, like Moses, to put off what I’d been asked to do. I realized there could be no such coincidence, as the very scripture that God had given me in devotion that morning, was one that the pastor talked about, and I had even written one of my devotional thoughts on in the early morning hours.. Ok God. I’m listening. But I’m still not ready. So much I needed to know and do and get ready for. The Monday at work, I continued to think about what needed to do be done, I still thought about it, but delayed. The following day, June 14th, on the day of my mother’s birthday, I asked my colleague again, not the first or second time on how she started her blog. She suggested a link, and it wasn’t 56 pages. Something said it was time, and like I had told God the day before, as nervous as I was, I was going to jump in with both feet. I got my url, and paid my hosting fees, and went ‘live’. I sent a few texts, including to my mom, saying I had a blog. Some of my friends commented that they didn’t know I was a blogger. Well actually, neither did I. This was something that God had laid on my heart and it was time.
Did I mention that it was June 14th and my mother’s birthday. The day I’d given myself to get started? I didn’t even remember until the end of the day as we were walking into the restaurant to celebrate with her, and I shared with her that I had wanted to do that in celebration of her.
I said all of that to say this. Sometimes we are in the midst of stuff, and we can’t see the beginning from the end, but God knows. I’m quickly learning how perfect God’s timing is. While I am not one to sit still and wait until His perfect timing, I’m beginning to see how He handles all things in His time. Sometimes He prods us and tells us that we need to get going, and sometimes He simply says to us, ‘be still and know that I’m God’. I’m learning and trying really hard to listen and obey to each of these commands.
Lord, help me to know when it’s time to get up and get going. Lord, help me to also know that there are times when You’ll tell me to be still. Lord, I ask for a non complaining spirit as I sit still. Help me not to be like the Israelites who You had been so good to in times past, but as soon as I’m given a command to wait, I forget where you have brought me from and try to push things in my time. Lord, I see how costly and delaying trying to rush things can be, from the Israelites perspective, but also from my very own life.
