God's Timing

I'm having a blast preaching through the book of Joshua  these days. Here's a related passage that rocked my world this past week.

I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. Exodus 23:29-30

God tells His people that He will give them victory and expand their territory as they are prepared to inhabit it. If He was to give them the entire land at once they would not be able to manage it properly. The land would be given to them 'little by little'. 

I think we sometimes get impatient, waiting on God to give us more when the truth is that God is waiting for us to be able to handle more. We want it, and we want it now. We get impatient waiting for God do greater things in our churches. God may indeed do some awesome things in our churches but it may be 'little by little' as we are ready. We lose patience with our brothers and sisters, expecting them to grow, change, and become all that we think they should be. God may be growing them 'little by little'. 

We often say "God will not give you more than you can handle" in regards to trials and temptations, but maybe the same can be said about the good things. 

Comments

[Debbie Giles]

I have to remind myself often that God only knows the 'big picture', and I need to have faith that His timing is perfect (in ALL things).