Timeline

When you have a project in mind to execute, the first thing you think about is a plan. With Information Technology tools, modern science has made the art of planning much more simplified these days. One of my best project planning tools is Microsoft Project. How does it work? Let’s say I want to publish a new book by the end of the year. The first thing I would want to do is to come up with a purpose; in this case, that would be to publish a new book. After coming up with the main objective, I would then begin to break that one singular purpose into tiny steps or activities that I need to carry out in order to achieve that purpose—steps like write three pages a day, research the selected topic for five hours a week, select a great editor, contact literary agents, submit my manuscript, etc. I can imagine my tiny steps would run into a lengthy list.

With my long list in place, I would need to state when I intend to do what. In doing that, I would have to answer questions like: What activities should come first? Should they run sequentially or concurrently? Is the outcome of one activity dependent on another? There’s no way I would be able to submit my manuscript for publication if I haven’t finished writing it! So with my purpose in mind, my plans spelled out, and the timing set, I can then start my project with absolute confidence that if I follow this well laid-out plan, I am sure to achieve my goal.

Now when I read Bible verses—like “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,” “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope,” or, one of my favorites, “The LORD will work out his plan for my life”—I am honestly convinced beyond every shadow of doubt that those words are true. Think about it… if I, a mere human, would go into such detail to craft out a plan when I have a project in mind, wouldn’t the Almighty have a much better purpose and plan for every creature he made? Surely he wouldn’t just make something for the fun of it. He’s got a plan; somehow I think most of us know that. But what we don’t know is the timeline he has attached to every activity he has planned out for us.

That part we’ll never know and, frankly, it wouldn’t be much fun if we knew exactly when certain things in our life would take place. Our creator wants us to trust him, to trust his wisdom and judgment when it comes to timing. He alone sees tomorrow and only he can decide at what point in our brief existence on earth certain dreams come through. So, if it seems you’ve been asking God for a miracle forever, don’t quit asking because it hasn’t happened yet. I need you to trust God in his own wisdom and have faith in the appointed time on his magnificent timeline —“Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Habakkuk 2:3

It’s worth the wait; trust me, because it is impossible for God to lie.

Think about that!