Divine Delays

While driving to work one day a few years ago, I observed something that made me chuckle. A truck had pulled over onto the side of the road. Warning lights were flashing. Florescent orange cones stood sentry around the vehicle. The hood was propped up. The driver didn’t appear to be going anywhere real soon.

What struck my funny bone? It was the slogan on the side of the truck—“Leave NOTHING to chance.” To me, that slogan implies that one should have done intensive planning and preparation ahead of time to ensure that nothing bad would happen—like getting stranded on the side of the road.

Things don’t always turn out as planned, do they?

I am reminded of a time that my hubby and I had an eye appointment. We arrived ahead of the scheduled time, but found ourselves having to sit in the waiting area for what seemed like forever. When we were finally called in to see the doctor, the consultation took much longer than we had planned on.

At last we headed out of town, but we didn’t go far before encountering debris on the road. Nearby a large billboard leaned precariously, pieces of signage dangling from it. Across the road we observed a semi-truck laying on its side in the ditch. We realized that, had things gone according to OUR schedule, we would have been in the direct line of a quick and powerful storm that had crossed the area minutes earlier. In God’s sovereignty, He used a delay to protect us.

The writer of the book of Proverbs in the Bible says this about unexpected things that come into our lives: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

I like what American poet Annie Johnson Flint wrote.

God has not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our life through;

God has not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God has promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way;

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

I pray that you will sense God’s sovereign presence and grace in your life as you trust Him, no matter what happens.

Giving credit where credit is due:

biblegateway.com