I am struggling though with God’s pace. I need to let go and allow Him to take the lead, rather than rushing ahead, which often leads to trouble.
Paul understood the importance of letting the Lord set the pace and not getting ahead of God. He describes his experience after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus to the Galatian church by saying, “…Then it pleased Him [God] to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being… Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. Then three years later I went to Jerusalem…” Galatians 1:15b-18 NLT
Three years after Paul’s encounter with Jesus he went to Jerusalem. Three years before he felt God calling him into his ministry. Paul was an enthusiastic guy! He was a doer. He was known for his ability to take action. He was well known by all as the one who made it his mission to eliminate Christianity from the world! Paul was a “take no prisoners” kind of guy.
So three years of waiting was probably not his style. But there he was waiting, allowing God to set the pace, the perfect timing to start the new ministry of spreading the Good News about Jesus to the Jews and Gentiles alike.
I believe these three years were not wasted; nothing in God’s economy is. I believe God was preparing Paul for the ministry for which he was purposed. You see Paul was highly regarded and respected in the Jewish circles. He was one of the elite. He saw himself as judge and jury and he was going to seek his own justice on the Christians. I surmise that in those three years, one of the things God was teaching Paul was how to be a lowly leader; a humble leader; a servant leader. I imagine that Paul wanted to do this ministry God’s way and on God’s pace. He didn’t rush out, he waited and learned.
Today, I need to take Paul’s example and not rush out and get ahead of God. While I am waiting on God’s perfect plan at His perfect pace, I will spend time with the Lord learning the things He wants to reveal to me in order to prepare me for His destiny He has for me. He has a perfect plan for you too. My prayer is for you to allow God to prepare you while you wait on His perfect pace.
“Lord, help me wait better. I ONLY want Your perfect plan accomplished in my life, and for my life to bring You ALL the glory! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”