God is Such A Show Off

I said it with my lips, but I was hesitant to believe it in my heart

Isaiah 65:1-25

Reference: v.24 Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear. (TNIV Bible)

Explore: The bunks were constructed, the beds made up, the cupboards were cleared out and the floors were clean. However, the room was empty and there was no pitter-patter of little feet.

As foster carers you have to be ready to take on children at any time, but sometimes the wait can be quite excruciating! Cameron and I were all set to take on a couple of young children, however, the referrals just didn’t seem to be coming in.

As I looked ahead at my next three weeks I could see some busy times ahead. I had one week that was normal and then a 10-day span where I was covering another colleague’s job as well as my own.

While I was really keen to take on more foster children I was worried that the children would come during this crazy 10-day period. I took it to God in prayer, but I was fairly abrupt in what I prayed:

“God, this week is clear, so it would be really good if the kids came this week. If not, then in three weeks time would be ideal because I’m not sure I can cope working over-and-above as well as settling children into our home.”

This was a fairly blunt prayer, and so, I would always finish it off by saying sheepishly,

“But I trust that You will know the right time, Lord.”

I have to be honest, I said that last sentence with my lips, but I was hesitant to believe it in my heart.

Well, the “ideal” week for children came and went. We had no referrals and the bunk beds lay bare. I then hit my busy 10-day busy period. I kept praying that God’s timing would be right, but at the same time wondered whether God had even heard me at all.

I got through the crazy 10 days and just as I arrived home from work on the tenth day I received a phone call from our foster agency. They had two boys who needed long-term placement and our home seemed ideal.

When I got off the phone I had to laugh.  Here I was praying that God’s timing would be perfect, and yet, I still didn’t fully believe that He had it all in control. I love that He even proved how much He was in control by having the phone call come the exact day I finished my busy workload.

Application: God is such a show off, and yet, He has every right to be. While my faith in Him faltered, His faithfulness to me never wavered.

And I am no more special than anyone else. God has been faithful to His people for thousands of years and He never tires.

While we may doubt in His timing, He has it all in His mighty hands.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I doubt You. May I continue to speak words of faith and pray that my heart will soon catch up to Your level of commitment. Amen.

What words of faith do you need to pray today? Speak them out, even if your heart has not caught up to believe it yet!

belief, busy, faithful, fostering, Isaiah, prayer, trust