It was on of those 100+ degree days that plagued us this summer, the kids and I were driving back in 5 o’clock traffic when suddenly we where in the turning lane. The light was green for those going straight ahead but since there was oncoming traffic on the opposite side of the road I had to sit tight till it cleared then I would be able to turn. At least that’s what I was taught in driving school:-), however my four year old daughter thought differently.. “mummy the light is green so it time to go” she said. “Not yet baby” I replied” …..we have to wait till the oncoming traffic clears”. ” Mummy I don’t think that right, my teacher said green is for go”. She then procedded to tell me if my lane was not going at the green light I should move into the other lane that was. That would have totally out of my way ofcourse
Eventually I was able to turn and we got home just in the nick of time for her favorite cartoon to start. Apparently she knew what she wanted and what time we had to be home so she could get it, it didn’t matter that it wasn’t our time to turn YET. All she knew was that she needed something and didn’t appreciate the fact that there was wisdom in her mummy not turning just to make sure she got what she wanted. Kids!!
When it comes to getting what we want in a way we all are just like my four year old. We are often impatient and in this fast paced world we need the results now and fast.
Kinda reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. In Luke 15, we are told of a man with two sons and the differences between both of them in terms of patience and diligently working in the father vineyard. We all know the story, the younger son so impatient and wanting what was his now, asked the his father give his own “share immediately. We all know how at thee end of the day he ended up squandering everything and returned home with his tail between his legs asking for forgiveness. Also brings to mind Martha’scomment to Jesus when he finally arrived two days after being told of Lazarus illness.In Luke 11:21 she says “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask
There are times in life when we think our prayers are not answered on time, we have our own course planned out that we neglect to commit everything to the Lord so that He will make our way smooth(Proverbs 3vs 5-6). For those of us who do proclaim to “commit” our ways, the challenge lies in our inability to trust in His process. Trust that our God, the all knowing Father knows exactly what we need even before we come to him in prayer. The fact that we haven’t gotten it YET might mean that we aren’t ready to receive it. Just like the prodigal son, his father knew he wasn’t ready for his share of the “inheritance” when he demanded it, but because we have free will God will sometimes give us want we want when we are not ready to redirect us back to where He needs us to be.Also in the case of Martha, Jesus already knew that He was going to perform a miracle to the glory of God the Almighty. So He deliberately delayed in making the journey to go and see Lazarus when he was sick.
In Isaiah 55 vs 8-9 God tells us “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. He has seen the beginning to the end of our lives, he knows what we are thinking even before we do, He might not work on our own timing but he is always ON TIME! All we need to do is trust that even when we dont see, He is working behind the scenes.
Unoma
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Unoma Nwankwor 