I write because I believe with all of my heart that God has given me a gift for writing and a passion to use this gift to encourage others. I love sitting in front of a blank computer screen, expectant and hopeful, praying with all my heart that God will give me the words to reach someone else with His love, grace, and Truth. It is my greatest joy to let Him use my life to bless others and glorify Him.
That happened last week in a really cool way. And I haven't gotten over it.
Last Saturday afternoon, I was typing out my last blog post "Letting Go of Offense." I had been meaning to sit down and write that post for weeks. Weeks. But I had been working on another project and just never had the time to write out what was on my heart. I had a little free time last Saturday so I took out my laptop and started typing.
I'm literally seconds away from posting it when my computer completely dies. Ugh. When you're in "the flow" as they call it, this is super frustrating. As much as technology helps us, when it fails us, it is really awkward. You find yourself digitally stranded, an Internet connection or computer battery delaying the text, tweet, post you want to share. That. Very. Moment.
The reality was that my computer just needed a break. So instead of getting upset or frustrated at the situation, I tried to see God in my circumstance. Past the disappointment of not being able to check it off the to-do list for that afternoon, I knew that God was inviting me to trust His timing in the situation. Could it be that there was a divine reason behind it all? Maybe God didn't want that post to be published that afternoon? After already waiting several weeks to post it, I really didn't want to wait any longer, but is it really about me and my timing? I've learned to trust God in His timing and to look for Him in those interruptions and inconveniences. So I purposefully chose to not get frustrated, but to trust that God was working.
After praying about it and giving my cares to God, I was at peace with postponing it just a little longer. It didn't come to my mind again until the following night, just before I was about to go to sleep. I heard God whisper to my heart, reminding me of the post and that it was finally time to post it. Now? I thought. It's Sunday night, it's late, and I'm tired. I have an important event tomorrow. I need my beauty sleep.
Excuses, excuses.
I am grateful that God is greater than my excuses.
I knew that the Holy Spirit was prompting me to publish this blog post. I couldn't shake it. I've walked with God long enough to know that my way is not the best and there is only peace in following God's ways. Obeying Him is always the best decision and the only one that leads to peace. So, while I didn't know why it had to be posted at that exact moment, I trust God and want to always be quick to obey, especially in the little things. Because if we don't listen in the little things, if we are not faithful to be obedient to the small things, we will not be trusted with greater things.
So it's after 10:00pm and I'm sitting in front of my laptop, doing final edits on the post. I'm praying that God uses it to encourage anyone who reads it and that God would be glorified in everything I share (I'm praying that for this post right now, too). It takes me a little longer than I expected, but soon it's done. I don't always do this, but that night, I decided to post my blog link on my Facebook page for my friends to read.
Less than five minutes of posting it to Facebook, I receive a message from a friend:
"Colleen, thank you SO much for that blog post! It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear! Thanks for always being such a light--you have no idea the impact Jesus is using you to make! :) "
Praise God! God is so good!
I was so surprised and amazed at God's timing! This friend not only read this post, but was kind enough to share that it blessed them. And this was so encouraging and awesome to hear because the whole timing of the post had been delayed and delayed and then finally it was time and within just a couple minutes of posting it, I found out why. That friend needed to hear those words that night. Not Saturday afternoon. Not two weeks prior. That very night. And God wouldn't let my computer cooperate the day before and He wouldn't let me sleep that night until it was posted when He wanted it so that this person could see it right then. The love of God is so beautiful! There is nothing more spectacular than witnessing God working in my life moment-by-moment so that He can reach others with His love through my words.
God is truly amazing!
I share all of this because I want to encourage you to be sensitive to those little delays, surprises, and interruptions this week. Maybe they're not the inconveniences that you think they are; maybe they're the rhythms of God's grace slowing you down or speeding your schedule alone. Don't trust in your timing and don't rely on your schedule. Allow God to rearrange things if He wills and trust that your times are in His hands. Because they are. Every second of your life is under His sovereignty. Our days are in His control. His timing is so perfect.
Friends, life is so exciting when you live for Jesus and His glory! Wow!