Absolutely Alive: Appreciate God’s Time - 3 July 2024

Time is God’s good gift to us; it’s as fascinating as it is complex as it marks the passing of days, seasons and events, and although it’s present in them, it cannot be contained, nor fully understood, even though it affects every part of our life. When used wisely, it’s our friend, but when it controls us it can also be a frustrating enemy, because we feel as though we’re constantly chasing an elusive thief that has the power to force us into places where we’d rather not be.

If you’ve ever travelled across time zones, you will appreciate how difficult and confusing it can be to communicate with your people back home, and you may well value an app like Timezone Wizard, which works out the time differences between countries to enable you to connect punctually for a virtual meeting, or not call home when everyone is asleep!

We need to be able to embrace and manage time to fully experience the rich goodness that life brings, and to cultivate patience to enjoy the fruit of our labours. A rosebush doesn’t flower the day you plant it, but after months of careful nurture we are rewarded with magnificent blossoms, making the time spent on it well worth it.

God used time in creation to make things that he pronounced good and set an example to follow. It is worthy of respect. The person who learns early to cherish every fleeting moment of life that time brings will realise what a profoundly rich gift it is through the unlimited, varied experiences it affords.

Reflect on Solomon’s words: “A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:2-8, ESV)

These words reveal balance and structure in the cycle of life, and perfect timing for all people as God ordained it to be experienced. He is not bound by time but is “the high and holy God, who lives forever. [He] lives in a high and holy place, but [he] also live(s) with people who are humble and repentant, so that [he] can restore their confidence and hope.” (Isaiah 57:15,GNT)

God’s time means we need never be overwhelmed, as in a bizarre dream where people, thoughts and actions are jumbled and we awake, confused, because we have little or no understanding of what is happening. Instead, with God, we recognize and appreciate each valuable season as he brings us through it, and he provides us with a sense of peace and stability throughout the challenging experiences that shape us.

Let’s value this profound gift!

Prayer: Loving God, you are eternal, and that is almost incomprehensible to us; but you have created time for our benefit and “there is a time and a way for everything … ” (Ecclesiastes 8:6a, ESV) Through it, you enable us, to be joyful and to do good as long as we live. “Teach [me] to number [my] days that [I] may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12,NIV) Amen