An On-Time God

 

 

Diane Stevenson – Prayer Center Chaplain/Recruiting Manager, cbn.com

I remember being in church singing the words to Dottie Peoples’ Gospel song, “He’s an On-Time God” as I played my tambourine. In my life, God comes right on time and rescues me. If you are like me, you have found yourself in a position where only God could rescue you.

In John 11:1-29, there was a situation that only Jesus the Messiah could fix. The two sisters were worried and sad because their brother was deathly ill. The brother of Mary and Martha needed a miracle from Jesus. The sisters sent for Jesus to come right away and heal their brother so that he would not die. When Jesus got the message, He waited four days before heading their way. I am sure everyone thought Jesus missed His opportunity to show His healing power and compassion. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, yet He knew His assignment.

There was a specific time I remember crying out to God in prayer, asking Him to make a way out of my situation. I had bills to pay and not enough money to pay them. My electricity was going to be turned off by the end of the week. I tried to figure out what I could do to keep it on; I had used up my extensions and grace period. I could not think of what to do except pray for God’s intervention. All I knew to do was trust God and listen to His instructions.

I love the words Martha said to Jesus when He finally arrived. It reads,

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (John 11:21-22).

It was the “But I know” that I had to grab ahold of in my greatest time of need. Although she was upset that He did not come sooner, she composed herself and remembered who He was and what He could do. I knew that Jesus was not limited in His power, compassion, or resources for me. So, like Martha, I had to trust He knew what was best and not lean on my own understanding as it says in Proverbs 3:5-6.

After the conversation, Jesus sent Martha to get Mary and come to Him. And like Martha, I listened and obeyed His instructions when He told me to contact a family member from whom I usually wouldn‘t ask for money. Because of my faith that God can meet my needs, I could pay my electricity bill and rest easy.

Jesus loves us and wants the best for us. John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.” Although He has the power to perform miracles, He empathizes with what we are going through. He loves us with an everlasting love.

In John 11:43, Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of the grave, and he was made alive. We must remember to have faith and believe in God. With every situation you may be going through that seems hopeless and even dead, just know that He is an on-time God.