“In time of trouble, say, “First, he brought me here. It is by his will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child.” Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow.” And last, say, “In his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows.” Therefore, say “I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in his keeping, (3) under his training, (4) for his time.” From Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow.
There’s a lot to take in there and it’s a great relief to remember all of that during our personal times of trouble and when we see our country completely falling apart. I hope it blesses you as it does me.
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3 ESV
How have you been with God’s timing in your life?
Have a blessed Sunday!
Z
geeez2014
GeeeZ .... 
Given what we are experiencing in today’s world, our faith is being tested to the extreme. Without faith, we cannot find true peace because it lies within. It is encouraging to finally see the GOP campaigns addressing our country’s problems which hopefully will lead to new leadership and get us back on track to be the world leader and once again have stability. This is long overdue so keep praying for its success.
LikeLike
“How have you been with God’s timing in your life?”
Not very good, I am afraid. Maybe I lack faith. The most significant thing that has happened to me is the suicide of my son. I once chafed, and resented people using the Biblical words of “there’s a season” for everything. No. I have never accepted that.
Now that I am older, it is still not easy to accept that it was God’s will, although it obviously was. My wife and I will go to our graves asking God, why? It is easy for those who haven’t had this kind of loss to use nice sounding Biblical reasons. It is pain, but more so a loneliness. I will admit that our daughter giving us two, wonderful grandchildren has been a healing influence. but we still talk about our son as if he were going to walk through the den door saying, “Wazzup?”.
Thanks, Z, for this post. I will think and pray over it.
LikeLike
God’s timing is perfect. I didn’t like it when I was in those straits, but it did work out, and it was by His hand, not mine.
LikeLike
I want it and I want it now!
Unless God wants otherwise.
And He usually does.
Seriously, It’s hard to tell about God’s timing versus ours.
We don’t always get the insight into whether it would have been better had we moved faster or slower.
My first marriage, I might have rushed. Like Abraham, I got my first born out of it.
But I got to keep him.
Bob, did you see AOW’s request for advice?
LikeLike
Bob, I also feel your pain because we lost a daughter in 2012. Having one of your children die before you is never easy to take regardless of their age. She looked much younger than her real age of 56 due to her healthy lifestyle, which made it even more challenging to any religious belief. Meanwhile we see people who deserve an early end to their life because they break all the rules of good healthy living yet still continue to live. Where’s the justice, you feel? We simply have to learn to deal with it and accept it as a challenge of our commitment to Him. Either way, you never stop crying. We don’t, and I know you don’t either.
LikeLike
Mal, you were amazingly courageous when your dear daughter died and I can’t believe it’s 3 years ago now…amazing. yes, we can so often question the justice; NO DOUBT about it. I see couples who act as tho they despise each other, yet there they are…together. And I think of the relationship with Mr. Z and how we were each others’ very best friend and while I never questioned God (a fact which could only come from above) I sometimes wonder. I once saw a very elderly couple at Whole Foods, holding hands, and felt a WELL of resentment …this was after a doctor’s appt with my husband….I felt almost a hate for our situation AND THEM at that moment; It was a sign to me to STOP, that’s not what I need to take from the nightmare. And I never felt that again.
Ed….I just literally heard this quote in the car before I came in “it’s best to divorce before the marriage.” I think you might understand that after what you wrote about your 1st marriage? Am very glad you were able to keep your child, too!! 🙂
Bob, Ed encouraged you to get to AOW (Always On Watch) blog. (On my blog roll)…and see her question of how to advise her family members after the very recent suicide of their husband/dad, etc……..
The reason I suggested she just tell them “I’m here to listen if you need me” was precisely for the reason you say….you mentioned how you “resented people using the Biblical words of “there’s a season” for everything.” That’s YOURS to feel, not theirs to tell…and they do mean so well and I KNOW you know that. But losing my husband and getting SO many messages/cards/visits, still to this day hearing “advice” six years later, helped me know that saying NOTHING is better. Always.
If you and Mrs. Bob didn’t go to your graves missing your dear son and wondering “Why?” I’d think less of you, my dear sweet man.
The other day a very recent widow at my church said “I’m crying and hurting…it’s awful!” I said “But he deserves that!”. She looked so stunned when I said that and told me “That helps so much…you’re right….he does deserve my sadness!”
SF: It’s easier to accept His timing when things are going great, isn’t it!!!
ALL: This is, I think, a great testament to keeping a journal, or notes in your Bible “I ready this when my sis died and it helped so much… ” near a verse…or “I was hurting over losing my job and came across this verse in 2012 like a miracle…God was faithful because I have a job now!”
We can read into a journal or see little notes in our Bibles and remember….”Wow, it felt so bleak then…and LOOK!”
I’m leading a group in my house on Thursday nights (Baysider is here with the other four women and me) and I’d ‘done’ this book six years ago with other women, the summer before Mr. Z died….and i was fearful at that time that he’d get worse (tho death was not predicted for at least 2 years)…and fearful of a lot of things surrounding his illness, our lives, etc………
There are questions in the back for ea. chapter and so, now, when I read my answers from six years ago (and they ask you to write prayers, too, which I had)….I see SO MUCH answered prayer since he passed………and so it’s been inspiring to me and, I believe, inspiring to the rest of the women here…
LikeLike
Z: Your advice at AOW’s was excellent. Less is more.
LikeLike
I needed this lesson today. I should be learning from watching our country degress into obscurity through Marxism. (Not being snarky, really mean that.) There is a lot of civil disobedience taking shape now. When a judge tells a high school band that they can not play anything Christian, they do it anyway. Legal Insurrection post. Praise the Lord for such bravery! And there’s been many other instances of “come and take it”. We shouldn’t lose heart. With God in control something good will come from this trial too.
I hope your day has been blessed. 🙂
LikeLike
SF…thanks. Less is definitely more in this case, that’s for sure…People mean so well, but I actually had a dear Bible Study friend say that she’d lost her beloved family dog and so she knew a little of what I’d suffered thru losing Mr. Z.
Yes, “VERY LITTLE” would have been my retort if I could have spoken at the moment!
But she meant SO WELL, I know that with 100% certainty.
Sparks…..I’m starting to pick things like that up, too…people who are not rolling over and playing dead for political correctness……..Guns, too, are evoking that kind of response…guns, faith (I wouldn’t be surprised if those poor folks who wouldn’t bake the wedding cake for a gay wedding have a LOT MORE clientele these days), etc etc.
High School teams are being told they can’t have any mention of Christianity, etc.
My thought is WHY? Why this very sudden and obnoxious purge to things that have been welcomed for years?
Is it because we’ve invited too much diversity into our country? I don’t think so. I think diversity is healthy, and usually it isn’t those diverse types with different religions, etc., who are complaining, anyway…it’s white American leftwingers who just can’t STAND the mention of anything wholesome, Christian, etc. Just can’t STAND it and will DEMAND it goes.
We have to consider the WHY? to all of this……….and WHY NOW?
I have Jewish friends who miss their kids singing Christmas carols in their public schools like we did….THEY are asking WHY?
LikeLike
I like that, Z, telling someone their beloved deceased deserves their hurting and weeping. I had never thought to say that.
LikeLike
Mal, thanks…..it really stunned my friend and she looked absolutely relieved….Our beloved deceased wouldn’t want us hurting and weeping but they’d realize it’s normal and natural if they knew they were loved by us. I appreciate your input.
Are you in Olympia and safe and sound with family? When are you seeing Gloria?
Love, Jingles 🙂
LikeLike
We arrived in Olympia last Saturday and saw her the next day, Jingles! She is doing fine at 91.
We’ll be leaving next Monday, the 31st back to Vegas so we can warm up again!
LikeLike