The Five Minute Friday prompt this week is … Slow. You can click at the bottom of this post to get to Kate Motaung’s site and read all that has been shared on this word.
The decision had just about been made not to do the FMF linkup this week. But then, that was before I read the word prompt. Funny how that one word can prompt one to think and then you feel the need to write it all down.
Slow – moving with less speed than required or needed.
It’s not a word which applies to my family as we tend to do a lot of things on the fast side. Therefore, the expectation is also that God should respond or act quickly as well.
Slow is a beautiful description of the manner in which God fulfilled His promise to Abraham. Slowly. Abraham was seventy five years old when God first spoke to him. He was one hundred when Sarah gave birth. Twenty five years of waiting on a promise.
Earlier this morning, as I continued reading about Abraham, I see a man who is just like me – has doubt. At this point, Abraham had been led by God, spoken to by God, and yet, he still doubts. In fact, Scripture tells us Abraham laughed in disbelief. In The Message, it uses the word “recovering’ giving the impression that Abraham had to get a hold of his laughter to continue talking with God.
I don’t know about you, but it encourages me when I read these times of doubt in our great people of faith and feats. Doubt will not cut us off from God if we come before Him and openly admit it to Him. I learned that He doesn’t hold back His blessing because of doubt or even love me less. In fact, I think our being transparent before Him moves Him to action to build up our faith. He does this to encourage us in our walk with Him, to draw us closer to Him, and to grow even greater faith in us.
Our God is not slow.
“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:8-9, NLT)
This morning I am reminded:
Our God works in His own time and not my time.
Our God is not slow
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith Filled Friday and Faith ‘N Friends and #DanceWithJesus and Fresh Market Friday .
Great encouragement, Joanne. I appreciate more and more how the slow helps us to really absorb God’s Word. We can’t approach it in a hurried fashion. As a hurried people, we need this. I love that God moves in this direction and draws to appreciate it and follow Him in this way.
We live in such a hurried pace for sure, Dianne. It was good to look at this word prompt – slow – and realize that our God is not slow but patient to work in our lives for our good.
I’m studying the Israelite’s wilderness wanderings right now, and keep coming back to the truth that God led them into that wasteland, even though it was the long way around — about 200 miles out of the way. He was in no hurry, but used that slow slog to humble them and to let them see what was in their hearts.
This encourages me to be patient with God’s timing.
Michele, it always amazes me how God was at work in the midst of their journey. They may have been in the wasteland and yet God still took care of them – their shoes and clothing did not wear out. Yes, I want to be more patient to wait on His timing in all things.
I thought of that verse from 2 Peter also. His time is not our time but still we wrestle against it. I was encouraged by your words today Joanne. Thank you
It is amazing the struggle we find ourselves in as we wait on His time. Perhaps as we remind ourselves that He is not slow, His time is perfect, and His plan is for our good, we will do better with the slow.
Love this! Our God is not slow, He simply works in His own time. Such an important reminder!
Yes, the reminder my impatient heart needs. Slow does not mean He is not at work. He is patiently working out His plan for our good.
Great job on this prompt, Joanne! I’m #18 this week at #fmf.
I appreciate you stopping here and being encouraging, Sarah!
It’s these stories that give me hope and encouragement too. Great post! I’m in the 6 spot this week.
I am so glad God gave us such a variety of stories so that we can always learn and be encouraged.
“doubt does not cut us off from God”–Yes! This is so important to remember. God embraces us, even when we doubt. Thank you for reminder me!
The enemy can try to make us think that doubt will cut us off from our God. We need to remember that God draws us in even closer during those times so that we are assured He is for us!
A good word, Joanne. God is not slow. He has his own timetable. I, for one, am glad, because I’m always in a hurry and not even sure what I want! It takes time to know what His will is.
Jerralea, you bring such an interesting point – in our hurry, we do not take the time to know what it is we need or want. So grateful our God is patient, taking His time to work out His plan in our lives.
Great point. His time is so different than ours. Thanks for sharing!
So glad we are deeply and unconditionally loved by our God!