Perfect Timing

It happened again this week. Twice. Sunday morning I was sitting on the couch, reading and praying. I was particularly focused on a difficult situation that had been escalating over the last several days. As I sat there, a text lit up my phone. It was a verse image from a friend, something that was part of her Bible reading for that day. 

“The battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20 v 15 

Perfect timing. Don’t fret and don’t try to figure out how you can fix it. Trust God. 

And Monday morning, I was drying my hair, getting ready to face the day, knowing that this same situation was going to require face-to-face discussion that evening. A friend who had not texted me since 11/29/20 sent this: “Just wanted to let you know I’ve been thinking/praying for you. You’ve been coming to mind more often. Just felt like He wanted you to know He is in control, He’s got it, He has you in the palm of His hands and His love for you is great! Praying for a great and blessed day!” Neither of these sweet ladies had any idea of what was on my mind/heart. The messages felt like they came straight from God, delivered by my friends. 

Another time, a friend of mine was dealing with a health issue that involved a report of lesions “too numerous to count” (i.e. very many). Although this description is fairly common medical language, I can’t say it is a phrase I had ever heard in any other context. That is, until that very morning in the book I was reading. I sent this message to my friend: “From the book I was reading this am – ‘Jesus came to bring us mercies too numerous to count, priceless in value, unceasing in application and eternal in endurance.’ Mercies too numerous to count… that’s the report that I am reading today.” 

Has this ever happened to you? Just the right song on the radio or running into someone you haven’t seen for a long time at the moment you needed a boost? Reading the Bible or listening to a sermon and hearing words that seem as if it they were meant just for you? Looking back at events and realizing that they had fallen into place exactly as needed as if orchestrated by a divine conductor? A little too amazing to be coincidence. Does God still speak and intervene in our daily circumstances? 

I believe He does. He communicates His love to us in so many ways, and it is beautiful when we see it, and unfortunately I would assume there are times when we miss it. 

The God of perfect timing. 

I was struck by His perfect timing as I read the story of Ruth recently. It just so happened that the widowed foreigner sent out by her mother-in-law to gather dropped grain behind the harvesters ended up in the field owned by a near relative of her dead husband’s family. And the owner happened to visit the field while she was there and take notice of her. These not-so-random happenings led to redemption for Ruth and gave her a husband and a son named Obed, from whose family line came King David and hundreds of years later, Jesus. 

And Jesus’ birth continued the perfect timing…“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” Galatians 4 v 4-5, NLT 

And His death…“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5 v 6 NIV 

“There is one God and Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity-the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” I Timothy 2 v 5-6 NLT 

God’s messages come at just the right time. The most important message of His love, expressed in the gift of His Son and also the countless just-for-you messages to remind you of how He loves you and how He is working out the details of your life for your good and for His glory. 

Oh, how He loves you! Watch, listen. He wants you to know it. 

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.” Psalm 85 v 8 ESV 

God, thanks for Your incredible love. Love that is always on time. Love that sent Jesus to make things right when they were impossibly wrong. Love that knows what each of Your children needs. We need to know You are present, and You remind us of that in so many amazing ways. We are in awe of how You love us. Give us Samuel’s attitude, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” I Samuel 3 v 10. 

“My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.” Song of Songs 2:14 

-Leah