Bread Crumbs – Devotions for Life

In God’s Time

 Luke 2:6-7

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  (NIV)

My friend Bill was a planner.  When Hospice told him on Saturday that his wife, Susie, would die soon, he set the date for her funeral for the following Saturday.  He reserved the church, called his friends, and placed an order with the caterer.

Despite his urging that the time had come for her to let go and to enjoy God’s peace, she didn’t, at least for a few days.  On Thursday, while his wife was enjoying a short-term rally he told me to reschedule her funeral for the following week.

Bill forgot that he lived in 3 different time zones – his, the world’s, and God’s.  Most of us do the same.

Luke was a precise author.  He tells us everything we need to know.  In this matter, all we need to know about the birth of Jesus is that Jesus was born when the time came.  Not when it was best for Mary and Joseph, Herod, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, you, and me.

We often forget that all matters are in God’s hands, under His watch.  We frequently forget about the third time zone in which we live, God’s time.

I am frequently asked, “When will … ?”

I simply respond, “In God’s time!”

Wouldn’t it had been easier for Jesus to have born when Mary was back home in Nazareth or when there was a room available in the inn?

One of the hardest acts of faith is to accept God’s timing, His kairos, as opposed to our chronos.

Is your life schedule overwhelming because you refuse to live in God’s time?  Do you not realize that most of things on your To Do list are not on God’s.

His timing is perfect … There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Prayer:  Lord God, keeper of all time, I am desperate for rest and peace.  Please help me to let go, to yield, to submit to your time and your agenda during these holy days.