My drive to work takes about fifteen minutes. I usually pray on the way for my day as well as for others. It keeps me calm as I drive. I find that I’m not as irritated with other drivers when I’m praying. I have to cross over four railroad tracks on my way to work. Usually this is not a problem, but this morning I could hear the train as I drove parallel to the tracks. I thought if I could get ahead of the train before I crossed the track then I could out run the train. But alas, that was not to be. As I about to cross the railroad tracks the gate comes down and now I’m stuck.I see the train approaching very, very slowly. As I wait, I noticed an ambulance come up behind me. He had to wait too. Fortunately there wasn’t a patient in the ambulance. But what if there were? Emergency or not they would have had to wait. I waited maybe a total of five or six minutes. There were over hundred cars that passed by. A hundred and three train cars to be exact. What else is there to do but count the cars as you wait? Five minutes is not a long time at all, but it was just annoying.
If I get to work at the right time there is a parking spot that is close to the entrance. There is a woman who leaves just as I get there. At the hospital there is designated parking for employees, which by the way is not close at all unless you are a doctor. I usually have to park clear across the lot. I don’t mind, but this morning I figured I missed my window of opportunity. When I finally got to work, that spot was opened. So if I didn’t get stopped by the train, I would have been too early for that opening.
Timing is a funny thing. Sometimes we think we are missing our opportunity because a long train gets in our way. Sometimes we feel five minutes is more like twenty. What if we got stuck by that long train just so we could get that perfect spot?
What if God places obstacles in our way to slow us down so we don’t miss that perfect opportunity He has for us? What if we try to out run Him? Do we really win if are out of step for what He has for us? What if what He has for us takes a year rather than a month? Timing is important. Favor with not only God but with man also plays into it, but that’s another story altogether.
Father help me to appreciate Your timing. Help me not to be frustrated when You put obstacles in my way for my own good. Thank You Lord for caring enough.
© Nadine Z. 2007
24 comments:
Ur such a beautiful soul.
**Father help me to appreciate Your timing.
Love what u said there. I believe there's a time for everything and everyone, and that He controls that.
Keshi.
yes timing is very important! And that is something I struggle with always...patience just to wait on God..this is so VERY difficult for me.
Good post! btw
I think about traffic delays and how it might be a good thing in the long run or even God protecting me somehow...my mom had mentioned that back when I was a teen, so I never forgot it.
You articulated this so well and so beautifully, here...and it can apply to so many other things on our lives.
Waiting for God's perfect timing- not always easy but so worth it!
this is so true Nadine! I have heard stories where people have had to wait on highways because if they hadn't they would have been in the accident up ahead and so on....
Timing is important and it is not our time on things but God's....
The timing of this post was perfect for me...something I'm dealing with. I was praying in the car yesterday about it and felt I was suppose to wait...so this post is a confirmation to me that for now...I need to wait.
Thanks.
If we are truly His, our steps are ordered :o) Yet another thing to be thankful for!
Susan
Well said. So many times I wonder why something didn't work out the way I wanted only to find myself in a situation where I am glad it didn't work out.
I have experienced God's perfect timing so many times! I love this post. Thanks for expressing it so beautifully.
I'm delighted that a cute little Hatian gril moved to NYC just at the right time to go shopping at Good Pickin's... :)
Tom
This is wonderful Nadine, being positive about the right timing through His guidance :D
I love this thought. I truly believe that God puts things in our lives to est our faithfulness. (Don't get me wrong, I don't think He purposely puts things like murder or mayhem in our lives. That's a matter or choice, but that's another story.) Anyway, I believe that God want's us to be stronger and that somsetimes the obstacles will come to make us stronger. Timing is everything. Thanks for the reminder to wait on God this morning.
Thank you for sharing and reminding me of how wonderful it is to pray in the car. I use to do this everytime I drove and now I don't. I was also calm, very calm. I am grateful to God that he used your post to remind me. He's so clever, isn't He?
I'm so guilty of wanting what i want when I want it. Only He knows what's best.
I so enjoyed this post. So lovely. Thanks Nadine.
xo
I always think about that, when things happen that are not planned. Once I remember it's not always about me, or my schedule, then I seem to relax. To know God is in control gives me peace!
Thank you for sharing :)
Sandy
For Reluctant Entertainers
It is weird that you talk about this. I have been thinking about what we consider blessing and how we grumble when we don't feel 'blessed'.
And, it is weird because i have spoken about interruptions on the road too!
Thanks for the reminder, I'm traveling to Dushanbe Tajikistan and the delays and inconviences of travel often cause me frustration. I'll remeber your lesson and thank God for His timing. Tell Tom Happy Father's day and love you both
Dan
This is exactly what I've been thinking this week. God's timing is so wonderful and so perfect. And when we step back later to view the big picture we see what he was seeing on the day he put the train in our path. It's so good to know we have such an amazingly gracious God watching over our every step.
The view from the other side of the tracks....
My husband is a night shift train dispatcher for BNSF Railway, based here in TX, and he runs trains through Pasco. :) It could very well have been my guy whom God used to bring about His perfect timing for you.
Ooo, chills!
I can totally understand this concept! I thought our adoption was only goung to take 7-9 months , now I'm at 12 months and possibly waiting another 12 . I believe he makes us wait so he can stretch us so we can grow into whatever his ultimate plan for us is. Sometimes there will be tests put in our way to teach us to be patient, loyal and decerning too. Stay on track! Don't let anything derail you.
Love this post Nadine. Thanks
I so agree with you on God's timing. It is always perfect. I just wish I would be not so impatient sometimes. I also believe that He puts obstacles in the way to keep us from harm. I had to wait before or was later than usual only to 'miss' an accident...Know what I mean?
Thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts. Needed to read it this morning.
Blessings to you and yours today and always.
Your words are always so wise, Nadine.
Have a beautiful Father's Day weekend with your sweet hubby and beautiful family!
Jane, Pinks & Blues Girls
Timing truly is beautiful :)
ah man when I am down I need to remember to come here for a read!!
inspiring and inspirational as always
It's tough for us "mere mortals" to appreciate God's timing. How often does an obstacle end up being a blessing?
Boy, does this hit home with me right now. I so don't want to get this timing thing wrong, but I am in panic mode right now wanting God to move for me. It is so hard to wait.
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