God May Have Purposefully Delayed His Power

There has been progress on the pavilion but it is incredibly slow. Christmas is almost here and we are not even close to moving in. The ring beam (or bond beam) is finished. All seven cross beams are in place. The earth bag wall that creates the structural anchor for the building is finished. Three king posts and the ridge beam in the back section have just recently been set. And the back storage room is fully enclosed. We still do not have official approval (on paper) from the senior chief in Mwandi. And there have been many disappointing challenges in our relationships among the Lozi people of late.

I have been reading The Christian In Complete Armor by William Gurnall. It has been very encouraging to me during these days as we stay busy but continue to wait on the Lord to do what only He can do. Here is a small portion from that book - "God May Have Purposefully Delayed His Power."

"When you have waited as long as you are willing to wait and God still has not answered, do not let your own impatience accuse Him of negligence. Instead, say to yourself, 'my Father is wiser than I, He will send what I need when I need it. I know if He withholds His hand from me at present, it is only because He knows best.'

One reason for postponing deliverance is to give your faith an opportunity to grow stronger. When a mother is teaching her child to walk, she stands back a short distance and holds out her hands to the child, beckoning him to come. Now if she exercises her strength to go to her little one, the child is ill-served for his unsteady legs are denied the practice they need. If she loves him, she will let him suffer a little at present to ensure his future health. Just so, because God loves His children, He sometimes lets them struggle to strengthen the legs of their unsteady faith.

Not only that, but He can also use trials as the occasion for great demonstrations of His power. Suppose a child is toddling along the rivers edge, slips, and is in real danger. What does the mother do? She rushes at once to rescue him! And her arms never seem stronger nor her embrace more comforting than in such a circumstance.

You may be a poor, trembling soul, weak in faith and ever on the brink of sinking; yet to this day your grace lives on, though full of leaks. Is there a greater demonstration of God's strength than to see such a pitiful storm-tossed ship towed past an armada of sins and devils into God's safe harbor at last? What a tribute to HIS power for so weak a vessel to foil all the battleships of Satan."

I said, "Let me walk in the field";
God said, "No, walk in the town",
I said, "There are no flowers there";
He said, "No flowers, but a crown."
I said, "But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din",
But He wept as He sent me back,
"There is more," He said, "there is sin."
I said, "But the air is thick,
And smog is veiling the sun"
He answered, "Yet souls are sick,
and your work is yet undone."
I said, "I will miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say";
He answered me, "Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they."
I pleaded for time to be given;
He said, "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide."
I cast one look at the field,
Then set my face to the town;
He said, "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for a crown?"
Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I will walk in a light Devine,
The path I had feared to see.

George MacDonald