An Appointed Time - The Crosswalk Devotional - June 26
An Appointed Time
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“This vision is for a future time.
It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.” - Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT)
Have you ever longed for the arrival of something significant? Maybe it’s a vacation you have been saving and planning for, a graduation, an upcoming wedding, the birth of your first child, an employment transition, or a relocation across town or cross-country. When these impending milestones stretch out before us, it feels like they will never arrive. We are so excited to experience all that we imagine these moments will carry with them, that it feels like time slows down as we approach the anticipated dates. Creeping, crawling towards the finish line, there can be a sense that the day will never come.
Waiting can be so hard for some of us. Delayed gratification is something many of us struggle with in our modern culture. We are used to getting what we want, when we want it. Though desirable to our flesh, instant fulfillment isn’t always the best thing for us. In many cases, it can be to our detriment. Think of a child who is granted all their heart's desires. What kind of character is produced in such a child? Often, words like spoiled, entitled, demanding, and thankless come to mind. The true nature of the heart cannot help but overflow for others to witness.
“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” - Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV).
Our Heavenly Father understands the value of what is forged in seasons of denial and delay. There is something miraculous that occurs as we are forced to wait. The Israelites entered the desert a mixed group of disgruntled travelers, but when they crossed into the Promised Land they were a unified nation. It took forty years in the wilderness to fortify their faith and foster their maturity. It took Noah decades to build the ark. Even Jesus went into the desert for forty days after His baptism before He launched His ministry. There is something sacred and holy about waiting for the appointed time.
A seed is buried in the darkness, with the weight of the soil pressing upon it. Once it has been inserted into the moist dirt, it can easily be forgotten. But come spring and summer, the evidence of life bursts forth. Eventually, those small buds grow into flowers and fruit. And when it has fully matured, and only when it has fully matured, is it ready for harvest.
It is the same with the character of our own hearts. If you find yourself in a season of waiting or uncertainty, know that the Lord is doing a good work in you. Though the pruning may be painful, valuable fruit is being produced.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT).
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you find yourself in a season of waiting? If so, what specific emotions are you experiencing? Are you anxiously anticipating an exciting event? Or perhaps you feel a sense of impending doom as you look ahead toward undesirable circumstances? Or maybe you feel stuck, trapped, or are struggling with a lack of control?
How does understanding God’s good work through denied or delayed outcomes help you hold onto hope during this time? What other biblical stories come to mind when you consider others who were called to wait? How can their testimonies encourage you that you are not alone?
Take some time today to reflect on the scriptures listed for further reading and any other biblical examples you recalled, as we have looked at how faith intersects with life. How do these examples help you remember that there is a time and a season for everything, and God will reveal His plans and His way at the appointed time?
Further Reading:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Psalm 130
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Renel Wackett
To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter. If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
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