Clothesline 308 "God-Incidences"

Timing is everything. How often have you heard that or even said it yourself? We hear stories of a man and woman meeting in college, or at a party. One of them was there by accident; the other wasn’t planning to be there at all. But somehow, they meet, and fifty years later they are still married. Someone just happens to be looking at a newspaper in a doctor’s office and finds the job she’s been looking for, and she never would have seen the ad had she not been sick enough to be in the doctor’s office. Timing is everything.

So, what about this: God’s timing is perfect. We know that’s true, but from a human standpoint, we might not agree. What about that healing that didn’t happen when we needed it most? And all the losses that God could have prevented. And how do we explain God’s perfect timing to families who have lost loved ones in accidents? The news is full of stories of innocent people, whom God surely loves, who have suffered significantly at the hands of evildoers. Yet, God’s timing…is perfect.

Jesus deliberately waited two more days before heading to Bethany upon hearing of Lazarus’ illness, and Lazarus died. We know the miraculous ending of the story, but what about Mary and Martha when Lazarus died; they didn’t know how Jesus’ untimely arrival was going to turn out. Certainly, they were confused, angry with Jesus, for letting Lazarus die. How many times have we prayed for God’s intervention, only to see nothing change.

So why is it that God often seems to delay when his intervention is needed the most? The parable of the weeds and wheat may help us understand. A landowner plants good, healthy seeds, but while the farmer and his servants sleep, an enemy comes in and sows weeds among the wheat. When the servants discover the damage, they ask if they should go and pull up the weeds. But the landowner says: “No, if you pull up the weeds now, you will disturb the growth of the wheat. Let them grow together until the harvest. Then we will separate the weeds from the wheat.” And that… is the message of life.

The parable suggests that God chooses to allow evil and good to co-exist until the end of time. Why? One reason is that there are certain types of spiritual growth that can only occur in the presence of pain and evil. It’s often during those times when God’s intervention appears to be missing, that God brings people into our lives who reflect the mind and heart of God. It’s not a coincidence; it’s a ‘God-incidence.’ God just might be found in an unexpected way.

And know this for certain: whatever your pain, God suffers with you; he loves you that much! Whatever the problems in your lives, expect growth, expect to learn something…because timing is everything.