Timing

Over the years there have always been circumstances that happened when I wasn't ready for them or when I was past being ready for them.  We all know those moments when we're anxious for what we believe the next step is in our lives.  We expect it, anticipate it and get impatient for it.

We are putting our house up for sale for the third time in 4 years.  Each time we put a "For Sale" sign out, we thought we were ready, but for a variety of reasons it didn't sell or we changed our mind.  The last time we put the sign out we could have worked harder to sell it, we could have tried harder.  Instead, we took down the sign knowing that it must not have been time.  We thought it was time, but instead of fighting what was naturally happening, we settled in to the way things were already working. It feels different this time.  It feels like it might be better timing and we might be making a better choice about where we go.  We didn't know this two years ago.  If we had fought what was naturally happening, we may have done something we regret and had to work to undo our mistake.

We don't know what is down the road.  We have our calendars filled, but we don't really know how we are going to feel, what we are going to need or what unexpected events will come our way.  It is better to live at peace and trust that the Spirit is guiding rather than fight against it and have to repair damages.

My favorite and one of the most comforting stories from the Bible illustrates this waiting perfectly.  When Joshua was crossing the Jordan River with the Arc, God told him to have the men carrying the Arc to go stand in the river.  God stopped the flow of the Jordan.  However, he stopped it 7 miles upstream from where the men were standing.  The men had to stand and wait while 7 miles worth of rushing river water and debris passed by their legs.  I bet they wondered if the water would ever stop.  What was the point of standing in the middle of the river?  God had taken care of them, they just couldn't see it yet.

I have learned over the years that if I am patient, things will work out even in the midst of difficulties and chaos.  I sit back and trust and listen and know that the timing will be perfect if I don't fight it.