Vol. 17 No. 01 | January 5, 2015
Year end reflections invariably reveal the remarkable impact of God’s providential care of His children. The evidence is impossible to ignore for the conscientious follower of Jesus. If you have not taken inventory of how God has worked in your life over the last twelve months, please reward yourself by acknowledging how God has stepped into your world at just the right time and in just the right way.
Remember how your world seemed to have no meaning when the relationship to end all relationships ended? You were devastated. You were heart broken. You wept. You grieved. You wondered if you would ever laugh again. Then, at just the right time a new special person came along, filled the void and opened new avenues of love and joy that you had never imagined.
Remember that horrible day when your boss told you that he had to terminate your employment? You were stunned. You did not have a clue this was going to happen. Having to go home and tell your wife that you had lost your job was the worst day of your life. Then, at the just the right time when you were not sure how you were going to pay your mortgage and health insurance, you got a call from a company offering you a new job, with a higher salary, and better working conditions.
Remember that afternoon when your daughter received the rejection from the university she had dreamed of attending? She dropped the letter, burst into tears, went into her room, and did not come out for hours. She was embarrassed. She was angry. She was sad. She was confused. There was nothing you could do to make things better. You prayed for her. You listened to her when she wanted to talk. Then, one day when she was at her lowest, at just the right time, she received an acceptance letter and an offer for a full-scholarship at another university. She started in the fall, has a wonderful roommate, and cannot imagine being at the other school.
Remember that Sunday at church when the minister announced he had accepted a ministry position with another church in another state? The whole church was shocked. He had been here for years. He is the only minister your family has ever known. You wondered if the church would survive. Then, at just the right time when you were discouraged and many of the members were grumbling and complaining about how things were, the new man showed up. You loved him immediately. His fresh vision and loving ways has brought new life and vitality to the church.
Remember that morning when your doctor told you he had seen something unusual on some of your scans? You were terrified. You immediately started imagining the worst possible scenarios. They did more tests. Then, they did more tests. What they thought they were looking for turned out to be nothing, but while doing the tests they discovered a tumor. Surgery to remove the tumor was completely successful. At just the right time when you didn’t know anything was wrong your life was saved.
Remember when you committed that horrible sin? The worst sin anyone ever committed. A sin you could not have ever imagined you could commit. You felt awful. In your mind you could not conceive of anyone being able to forgive you or love you ever again. Then, at just the right time when you were absolutely powerless you read Romans 5:6-8: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NIV)
When we take the time at the end of a year, or any other time, we are likely to discover that God has been working for our good in ways we never dreamed of. And, at just the right time, He steps in to do what only He can do to change the course of our lives. Acknowledge His involvement in your life. Give Him credit. Praise His activity in your life. Live the rest of your life as an expression of gratitude for what He did at just the right time.
Tom
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