Timing and Process

Ecclesiastes 8: 4, 6a (NIV)

Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

... For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

This time of year holds such promise of new life. At our house right now, there is new life everywhere—new calves in the herd, new leaves and blossoms on the trees, new growth from the ground.

I love how in spring we can still see traces of winter. The leaves aren’t yet full enough to cover the barrenness of the tree—a reminder that life will grow again from once barren branches. They’re like bright green dots of hope against the bleakness of what had appeared dark and dead.

But the things which had appeared dark and dead weren't actually dead.

These trees weren't actually dead—they only appeared that way. The grass wasn't actually dead—it only appeared that way. All were being prepared through complex, intricate inner processes involving elements not visible to our eyes in places not visible to our eyes. All were teeming with life in invisible places. The birthing and blooming and budding are outer expressions of what has been happening for months in places we are unable to see. The calves, the leaves, the blossoms, the blades of grass—all are the outward manifestations of inward life which was in process long before we could see the results.

So here's what I want to encourage someone with today:

Just as God works through complex, intricate, miraculous processes in nature, using elements outside of our ability to see in places outside of our ability to see, so does he work through complex, intricate, miraculous processes in our lives—often using elements outside of our ability to see in places outside of our ability to see.

And when the time is right, we will see the manifestations of these processes—and they will be beautiful.