“God’s time is always on time”
Natasha writes:
For the longest time, Philippians 4:13: “Christ gives me the strength to face anything” (CEV), has been my favorite verse. I’m Australian, so when I first accepted my job here in the States, I thought the process in obtaining a visa would be pretty straightforward, and that I would be state-side within a few months. Those few months blew out to become closer to 2 years, and while in hindsight, such a span in time does not seem overly long, at the time, the wait became excruciating. On many occasions I was ready to throw in the towel and stay where I was in Australia, but God kept nudging me to hold on. There would be days where I would open up my email and just cry. I felt helpless, and I didn’t know what to do. Philippians 4:13 kept playing over in my head until finally I discovered what it really meant to put my trust fully in God: while I continued to wait, have my job description, location, and start-date continually changed, I did not worry, fear, or become angry. I knew that in everything, God gave me the strength to face it, and He had it all under control.
Things eventually worked out. Because of God’s perfect timing, so many other things happened that I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish had things gone according to my plan.
In this one experience in my life, this verse came alive for me. How has it come alive for you?
Popularity: 4% [?]
Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on August 24th, 2006 and filed under God's Sovereignty, Life Verse, Struggles, Your Stories.
August 25th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Thanks Natasha. This is an important reminder to me right now. God often puts us in impossible circumstancess in order to see if we will rely on His power or our own. Just as David trusted the Lord to do the impossible when he faced and killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17), so we need to trust that He will give me strength to face all things through Christ.
October 29th, 2006 at 12:10 am
I’m a recently-divorced single working mom back in college. For me, it’s the word “everything” that makes this verse so meaningful right now. The NIV says, ” I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Everything is so broad, that in my head I say it situationally. “I can fold this load of laundry through Him who gives me strength.” “I can resist the cupcakes and wait until my nutritious dinner through Him who gives me strength.” It’s these small battles I face a dozen times a day where failures wear me down and make me feel worthless, or successes give me confidence and a clear head. I tell myself, “Today I can stay on budget at the grocery store through Him who strengthens me.” and I know that He is with me there, helping me choose the best use of my money for His will and glory. Sometimes I feel like I can’t make it through the daily grind, but I know I can, and I will, one thing at a time, through Him who strengthens me.
January 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Reading this scripture gives me chills, because I know that it was God who brought me out, and gave me strength to endure the things that I have endured and continue to endure. In the past I have been abused- but it was Christ that strengthened me to get through. I have lost 3 children, but it was Christ that strengthened me to get through. Right now, I am going through multiple health issues, but it is Christ that has strengthened me, and continues to strengthen me. I will get through this life, because Christ strengthens me.
July 8th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Personally I am in a very rough spot in my life right now. I continue to pray and to ask that the Lord guide me through this mess but some days it just seems impossible. I’m a fairly new christian (2 years) and in the last six months my entire life has fallen apart. I have no choice but to trust God and hope he comes through for me. I would like to ask you to pray for me as I continue my journey through this situation. I will keep you updated.
Thanks
July 20th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Natasha’s story is very familiar and very encouraging. Here is mine my friends and may it help and encourage you:
I had to been asking and trusting God for a forward leap in my career. I prayed. I fasted. I knocked. Nothing seemed to work.
Then in May 2007 God distinctively and clearly said to me in 2007 that — “just because He has not given me a job yet does not mean He has changed His mind about helping me. While am waiting He is working. The timing may not be right for Him to get the ultimate glory, and me the ultimate benefit”.
I waited long. I prayed hard. I knocked on doors. I called in my contacts to help. I pulled strings of my connections. In short, I did all a man could do to get a job. Sometimes things were so hard. – with a big family to look after and numerous dependents it has not been easy : Numerous nights of wondering what the family will eat the next day were many. The recurring nervousness of how to pay school fees were periodically before me.
I continued to pray, cry, shout and plead for God’s understanding and intervention.
Finally in May 2007, God bluntly told me to let go and let Him have His way. God said to me that I had been too strong, that I knew too many people and had too many connections for Him to help me. I was surprised. I decided to relax, enjoy myself, pray and wait for Him.
Just when I decided to halt all activity and wait for Him to move – He moved DRAMATICALLY AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT MY PUSHING AND LOBBYING.
On Tuesday, 10th July 2007 I was offered a job I did not even know existed. It turned to be better than the one I had been trusting God for. I did not lobby for this one. God raised a helper for me on His own.
The lesson I take from all these and which I commend to you my friend is this: God is able to handle all your problems. He is willing to handle them. He is waiting for you to give them to Him. Then He wants you to relax, wait for Him to handle it.
Please join me to sing – “All the glory must be to the Lord for He is worthy of all our praise, no man on earth should give glory to himself, all the glory must be to the Lord”
The Lord God Almighty who did it for me will do your own too: – HOLD ON.
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Right now I am a college student. As you all know college is very expensive. I also deal with youth and give a lot to the youth group I think a little bit more that what i should but right now I am in a money scrunch because of college I really don’t have enough money and a couple days ago I thought why not just stop all together but God showed me a glimpse of what it would be like if I had quit school for 2 days I felt miserable I pretty much lost my full time job and was put to part time. I have bills to pay and couldn’t afford it. Once I said God I will stay in school I got my job back to full time. So right now I am seeking around looking around I am praying for a door to be opened and have the money being sitting right in front of me so I can get through school with out worrying about tuition cost. I would appreciate who ever reads this to pray for me. Everyday when I am in a panic about school I always get a voice in my head saying “God’s time is always perfect”.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 am
My dear brother Eric,
You will be in my prayers as you seek your way around life. God is always around us gently guiding us. My experience and that of the majority of christians I interact with is that God moves quietly rather than noisly. But He is always there. I have also learnt that God does not give us ALL we need at one time – He gives us for each day, each stage what we need to go to the next day, the next stage. This allows us to lean and trust in Him for everything.
We can share some more experiences if it is appropriate – you can get my e mail address from the hosts of this website.
The Lord God Almighty will help you. He did not bring you this far to abandon you!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Sometimes I feel really weak,Im in a lot problems
that only God knows but God is incredible, he surprise me in different ways, so lets keep up the faih. Hes the only one. I believe in Jesus. Hes going to support us. Im very proud of him.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Please pray for me I need to keep my faith.
Thank You!
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:59 am
Linda I will pray for you. Just keep heading in the right direction. I was having the same problem this summer where I felt that I was going to go bankrupt with school and car loans and everything else. I was in tears until out of no where a friend of mine in my church called me to tell me that one of the youth in the youth group created a group for her on facebook. As I was in tears she was in tears, she then asked me how my life was going and I told her what was going on. She told me this and she has been telling me this over and over again. God has brought you to this place for a reason and he is not going to let you go. He is not going to say well I can’t do anything else for you so there you go find a way because I can’t even though I can move the mountains I am the way I am the light I am the truth. So keep in there you will find the light at the end of the tunnel. We all have these days and I am so glad someone has put this blog up so we can pray for each other or what ever.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Would someone be able to pray for me? I am trying to sell my 2007 Ford Five Hundred and restart with a new car. I just spent 50 dollars today to sell it threw the news paper and just am afraid that it is going to be a huge flop for me and my finances. I know 50 dollars is not much but I am a college student and I would love to get a rid of this car for a new and better one and also reduce my debt. So if you all could pray for me that would be great.
January 4th, 2010 at 10:00 am
I am really touched by the messages given above, especially that of Andzenge.His response to ‘God’s time is always on time’ has made me to resolve to leaning completely on the Lord in everything. I hope His sustaining grace and favor will reach me to at His appointed time.
October 22nd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I know that God is able… Im going to continue to wait…pray..just and belive and pray for directiion…
October 24th, 2010 at 3:18 am
Shenika, what are the outlines of your circumstances? Whats are you waiting for? How long have you waited? I percieve that based on my past experiences with the Almighty God as i indicated in my posts of July 2009 and Aug 2009 i may have some insights that may point the way forward: Recall 1Cor. 10:11.
Thanks