February 9, 2023
Melissa Valerio
As far as timing is concerned, all of us fall into one of three categories: early, late, or right-on-time. Early is preferred, right? Especially when we’re arriving for work. Late is no good for anyone. But right-on-time, now that’s a class in itself. I think it takes more effort to be right on time than it does early or late. Because timing is everything when it comes to “right on the dot”. Even if you try, you’ll usually end up a little early or a little late. One second on either end, and you’ve already tipped the scale.
We can all think of “bad timing” scenarios. Just listen to Alanis Morissette’s 1996 song “Ironic”. She lists at least 6 different scenarios of bad timing: dying a day after winning the lottery, a man pardoned after a capital death, a free ride after you’ve already paid, meeting the man of your dreams after he married someone else. So on and so forth. And we can probably all think of “good timing” scenarios. Bonus money at just the right time, hitting all the green lights on your way to work, getting the very last maple donut at Dunkin Donuts. But even better than good timing, is PERFECT timing. And guess Who’s in charge of perfect timing? God!
As Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us “He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time” (ASV), which means everything that happens is happening at the appropriate (or appointed) time. We may consider it late, but He says it’s right-on-time. We may consider it “bad timing”, but He says it’s the perfect time. Not really what we want to hear when we’re used to getting things delivered same-day. But He says it’s right. It’s perfect. It’s appropriate for His plan.
Take the polar bear, for instance. After a polar bear mates and the egg is fertilized, the fertilized egg divides into a hollow ball of cells one layer thick (a blastocyst), then stops growing and lies free-floating in the uterus for about four months. The blastocyst then implants in the uterine wall and continues to develop. Delayed implantation assures that the cub is born during the best time of the year for survival and allows the female to get into good physical condition and use her energy for nursing her newborn cubs. (Info from the SeaWorld website) Though the mother may have mated months before, the fertilized egg doesn’t actually implant until the entire gestation period would allow for her to give birth at “just the right time”. Talk about God’s perfect timing! His plan is to make sure the cub is born safely during the winter, protected from the outside world in the safety of a den, then once spring arrives, it’s old enough and strong enough to venture out with its mother. Even the timing of mating doesn’t overrule the timing of God! What a beautiful picture of how God’s timing is protective, planned, and purposeful. If He has that much care for polar bears, just imagine how much more He cares for us, His children. He sees us, listens to us, and answers us. He has promised to answer our prayers at just the right time (Isaiah 49:8). Whether or not He answers them as we wish is up to Him. But He will answer. We can honor His timing by trusting His timetable.
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for Your perfect timing in everything. Though we may rush ahead or have our own timing in mind, You still protect the plan by delaying the results when necessary, just as you do with the polar bears. Help us to recognize that Your timing is better than our own. We patiently and joyfully wait on You. In the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Action: The next time you’re tempted to get upset because you’re running late for an appointment, remind yourself that you’re actually arriving at “just the right time”, even if it’s later than you planned. Especially if your “tardiness” is due to events outside of your control. Instead of becoming upset, recognize that the Lord is in control of time. Offer up a thanksgiving instead. Something like “Lord, this isn’t the time I planned on being here, but it’s perfect according to Your plan. Thank You for being involved in this timing.”
image: freepik.com