In Due Time

Just seeing the title ‘in due time’ probably upsets you. I know it bothers me. I have probably asked myself, and God, what does in due time mean. Can I have a more concrete time frame? Is it in a few hours, a few days, a few weeks, years?! But, after the many times I’ve asked, I’ve been left with silence and the mere understanding that whatever must happen will eventually happen.

When we are in a rush or need something, hearing ‘in due time’ or ‘eventually’ doesn’t seem amazing. We are called to be patient and wait (there goes that word again; see ‘Waiting is Not Easy’). It is uncomfortable. It is unnerving. It takes away control and requires you to let go and trust God that it will all work out for your good in the end.

Think of it this way, if the mechanic requires a back-ordered part to fix your car, no amount of fussing or stressing would make the part come any faster. Rather, you would become irritated, angered, rude to others, sick etc. It would have a negative impact on you. You would be so focused on the issue that is out of your control that you miss the things that you do have control over. You will miss the solutions to your problem. You will miss the guidance and providence of God.

It’s never about how long you have to wait, but how you wait. Are you waiting patiently, doing good in your wait and allowing James 1:2-4 to happen that you may be a perfect work? Or are you anxious, worried, stressed, afraid and focused on the problem? It is all about looking upwards and not what is in front of you. Focus on God and allow Him to guide you for in due time, you will reap a reward.

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

– Galatians 6:9

Have you ever noticed that when you begin to wait well and not focus on the problem, things seem to flow easier and come faster? The car that you needed to have fixed ended up being fixed earlier than you expected, or fixed with upgrades? Or fixed later that you hoped but you did not miss the important meeting you needed the car to get to? I like to think of all the Hallmark movies where someone gets stranded, or their car is broken down. To them, it is the end of the world. They have somewhere to go. But, as they let go of control and wait on God, they enjoy the town, learn new things and they experience a character shift. It changes you.

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…"

- 1 Peter 5:6

I know it’s hard to wait for the ‘due time’ but, when we let go and trust God, things flow and work out so much better that we could ever imagine, and we are always much better for it. So, don’t look at the clock, but trust that what will happen will eventually happen. You may not know how or when, but it will!