A question begging a moment for a thoughtful reply: How different would life be for us if we lived two hundred years ago? A little slower maybe?...
We live in a fast society that caters to our impatience - petting and assuaging it at every opportunity. We're likely moving so fast that we don't even appreciate how fast life's passing. We're trained by the promotion of a fast moving society to expect fast, so we have fast food, fast transportation, instant communication and fast internet, ... But sometimes patience and expectant waiting bring the acknowledge-able answers that we need most desperately... and haste may cause us to overlook or even just fly past them.
I've heard Father God described as being "old and slow" and while I don't dispute that He's existed before time, or the fact that He moves at His own pace, I prefer to hold a different personal description of Him based on my own experience through this ongoing process of sanctification with Him...
"His knowledge is complete, His wisdom is holy, His timing is perfect, and His focus is unfailingly on my eternal profit as a faithful, righteous, just and truly loving Father's priority."
Having an overly critical focus on Father God's responses to me personally in younger years, I took notice of "how He treated me" as I began learning how to walk with Him. At that time, I was in a personally desperate situation. My youth was harder than many were allowed to know and my critical, judgmental eye was securely fixed on His responses to my requests to "bail me out" of the circumstances I found myself in. I was looking for a deliverer and a protector and I was judging His performance results accordingly. Obviously my estimation of myself and of Father God at the time were totally arrogant, inappropriate and almost completely ignorant of true reality. Over time, I learned the truth...
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
I am , as we all are, in flesh only for a short time. Like the proverbial caterpillar destined to be given a new, more beautiful body - yet always the same living creature from beginning to end, we're spirit, encased in flesh for only a moment. We're destined to be given a new body, but always one created, eternal spirit. What matters to the caterpillar physically may differ somewhat from what matters to its destined, transformed self. And what matters to us physically now will soon pass to reveal an eternal destiny we'll live without end. What will matter then will surely be different in many aspects from the concerns of our temporary casement. Our all knowing Father understands without question that the true importance in our lives rests with what we will be and live with forever and not the concerns of the caterpillar case we'll soon shed.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
A father's patience to teach and to allow a child to learn and build good and strong character will benefit and follow that child throughout the child's life. Our lives are intended not for this moment, but far beyond. When we begin to learn how our Father thinks and the plans He intends for us, we'll begin to see His hand in our lives and learn to be grateful for His deep involvement and the wisdom of His decisions regarding us. Our patience and faith to trust Him according to His word and to not credit Him with the evil that men do to us in the exercise of the free will that we all have, are ingredients that will unfailingly produce results in every day life and in the future ahead - all of them under His care and all-seeing, watchful Father's eye.
"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NLT)
Sometimes the Lord answers "No" and we might reject or ignore it. Sometimes His answer is different than our expectation and we blast right past it looking for another result. Other times His answer is delayed and we might give up looking for it. There are many, many reasons why His answers may not align with our expectations... a Perfect Father's reasons that reach well beyond our limited perspective and expectations.
"...and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:21-23 (NLT)
"But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone."
Psalm 33:18-22 (NLT)
I have lived to trust Him to raise seven children, through a devastating house fire, financial ruin, accidents, three simultaneous strokes, broken bones, through numerous difficulties, tests and threats... and I am blessed still. What could have broken me and my house beyond repair or could have even taken my life here, has found me blessed over time in the end - because I am His child and He is my Father. Don't rush through your relationship with Father God expecting things on your timeline or according to your expectations. A God who can breath out stars is surely bigger than you and I and far wiser and able to profit us for eternity - all the while referring to us the apple of His eye and carrying the deepest love for us in His heart. - Just like the ultimate good Father would for His most precious child,... you and me.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
We live in a fast society that caters to our impatience - petting and assuaging it at every opportunity. We're likely moving so fast that we don't even appreciate how fast life's passing. We're trained by the promotion of a fast moving society to expect fast, so we have fast food, fast transportation, instant communication and fast internet, ... But sometimes patience and expectant waiting bring the acknowledge-able answers that we need most desperately... and haste may cause us to overlook or even just fly past them.
I've heard Father God described as being "old and slow" and while I don't dispute that He's existed before time, or the fact that He moves at His own pace, I prefer to hold a different personal description of Him based on my own experience through this ongoing process of sanctification with Him...
"His knowledge is complete, His wisdom is holy, His timing is perfect, and His focus is unfailingly on my eternal profit as a faithful, righteous, just and truly loving Father's priority."
Having an overly critical focus on Father God's responses to me personally in younger years, I took notice of "how He treated me" as I began learning how to walk with Him. At that time, I was in a personally desperate situation. My youth was harder than many were allowed to know and my critical, judgmental eye was securely fixed on His responses to my requests to "bail me out" of the circumstances I found myself in. I was looking for a deliverer and a protector and I was judging His performance results accordingly. Obviously my estimation of myself and of Father God at the time were totally arrogant, inappropriate and almost completely ignorant of true reality. Over time, I learned the truth...
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
I am , as we all are, in flesh only for a short time. Like the proverbial caterpillar destined to be given a new, more beautiful body - yet always the same living creature from beginning to end, we're spirit, encased in flesh for only a moment. We're destined to be given a new body, but always one created, eternal spirit. What matters to the caterpillar physically may differ somewhat from what matters to its destined, transformed self. And what matters to us physically now will soon pass to reveal an eternal destiny we'll live without end. What will matter then will surely be different in many aspects from the concerns of our temporary casement. Our all knowing Father understands without question that the true importance in our lives rests with what we will be and live with forever and not the concerns of the caterpillar case we'll soon shed.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
A father's patience to teach and to allow a child to learn and build good and strong character will benefit and follow that child throughout the child's life. Our lives are intended not for this moment, but far beyond. When we begin to learn how our Father thinks and the plans He intends for us, we'll begin to see His hand in our lives and learn to be grateful for His deep involvement and the wisdom of His decisions regarding us. Our patience and faith to trust Him according to His word and to not credit Him with the evil that men do to us in the exercise of the free will that we all have, are ingredients that will unfailingly produce results in every day life and in the future ahead - all of them under His care and all-seeing, watchful Father's eye.
"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NLT)
Sometimes the Lord answers "No" and we might reject or ignore it. Sometimes His answer is different than our expectation and we blast right past it looking for another result. Other times His answer is delayed and we might give up looking for it. There are many, many reasons why His answers may not align with our expectations... a Perfect Father's reasons that reach well beyond our limited perspective and expectations.
"...and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:21-23 (NLT)
"But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone."
Psalm 33:18-22 (NLT)
I have lived to trust Him to raise seven children, through a devastating house fire, financial ruin, accidents, three simultaneous strokes, broken bones, through numerous difficulties, tests and threats... and I am blessed still. What could have broken me and my house beyond repair or could have even taken my life here, has found me blessed over time in the end - because I am His child and He is my Father. Don't rush through your relationship with Father God expecting things on your timeline or according to your expectations. A God who can breath out stars is surely bigger than you and I and far wiser and able to profit us for eternity - all the while referring to us the apple of His eye and carrying the deepest love for us in His heart. - Just like the ultimate good Father would for His most precious child,... you and me.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
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