“At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” – Isaiah 60:22b NLT
Many years ago I got a “Christmas” cactus. This year, for the first time, it bloomed right at Christmas. Some years it’s more like a Thanksgiving cactus, and other years it blooms in January. No matter its name, it seems to bloom on its own time. This is frustrating for me because its dark red blooms and deep green foliage make for a perfect Christmas decoration. By January, I’m done with red and green. I’ve tried moving it to different rooms in the house to get it to bloom precisely when I want it to, but it still seems to bloom when it wants to.
I find I treat God a lot like this cactus. I want God to do things on my schedule, and I try my hardest to get God to act according to my timing. But only rarely does God’s timing and my own match up. Often, I am forced to wait and learn patience. Other times, God moves before I am quite ready. In any case, God moves according to God’s own schedule.
In chapter 60 of Isaiah, God speaks of a time of renewal and restoration for Jerusalem, a time of light and peace. The people must have been thrilled by that promise, praying, “Do it now, God!” But God simply says, “At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” In other words, it will happen according to God’s timing, not theirs. And not ours.
This January, if you are praying for God to act and it seems to be taking too long, I pray for the Spirit to give you patience and peace. And if God is already doing things in your life and you aren’t quite ready for it, I pray for the Spirit to give you endurance to keep up with God. Know that God is always working “at the right time” – at God’s time.
Happy New Year!
Pastor Mark