When I was in the U.S. Army boot camp, one of the "skills" they taught us was, "Mark-Time". That is where you march in place. Your boots never stop moving but you have no forward momentum. Honestly, everytime I had to "Mark-Time", it annoyed me because I could not see any advantage of stomping in one place and not going anywhere.
Today's spiritual take-away is pretty simple:
"There are days when it doesn't seem like we are gaining on our goals, but it is important to have faith that God is at work behind the scenes."
Some days God expects you to stop pushing because everything happens on His time schedule - not ours.
Remember this:
"God's will is never late, never early, always right on time".
For me, one of the most terribly difficult things that God commands us to do is:
"Wait". Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God".
I am NOT good at waiting. I am more the Tylenol push through the pain kinda guy.
Have you ever shown up for work and slaved all day, only to find that you were unable to finish anything? The whole day was pretty much a bust.
On the other hand, have you ever moseyed through your day at half speed and at the end of day, found every single project finished and complete? How did that happen?
Everything in God's time.
If you read the Gospels (the 1st four books in the New Testament), you will find that Jesus repeatedly said, "Not now, now is not my time". Jesus was working on His Father's timetable, not His own.
This principle should offer you perspective. If Jesus was working on His Father's timetable, how much more should we be aware of living within our Heavenly Father's schedule.
I am going to speculate here on a couple of reasons that God's timetable may demand that you occasionally "Mark-Time" and wait for His command to proceed.
#1. God is working in someone's life and needs more time to work.
God uses circumstances, events and people to bring about life change in people. Of course, it goes without saying that God also utilizes the Holy Spirit and His Word but if someone has a hard heart or a closed mind to God's voice, sometimes He works behind the scenes to soften their heart or open their minds.
#2. God wants to grow your faith.
OUCH. This is never an easy experience.
"Dear brothers and sisters,
when troubles come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy.
For you know that when your faith is tested,
your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance
is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete,
needing nothing." James 1:2-3
"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36
