Softball practice was over at 5:00 p.m. At 5:06 the first text came: Hey, Mom, did you forget about me?
Every child knows the panic that comes when Mom or Dad doesn’t show up when they are supposed to. Only six minutes late, and you start to panic, thinking that you’ve been forgotten. Your mind starts racing: “Where are they? How am I going to get home? What if something bad happened?”
We also start to panic when we think God is late. “Why didn’t he answer my prayer yet? How come I’m still having problems with my friends?” “Why are my parents and I still fighting?” “Why can’t God just come back and take us all to heaven?”
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV).
God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the time we think he should. Instead, God acts when the time is right. Everything in this world is designed to strengthen you, to bring you closer to him, to give him the glory, and to reach out to those who don’t yet believe.
When you’re tempted to panic, remember that God’s not late. He hasn’t—and never will—forget about you.
Dear God, please help me realize that you act in your time, which is the right time. Help me trust that you know what’s best for me and will work all things for my good. Amen.
