Appointed Time
“For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.” Job 23:14
It’s amazing to me that Job was able to say this, even in the middle of all he had to endure. The suffering and loss he experienced, without any apparent reason, seem to warrant a different response. Yet, this was his attitude towards the God who allowed so much pain in his life.
Considering all that’s going on right now, we have to remember this truth.
We have to remember that God’s not surprised by the state of our nation or even the circumstances in our own lives. It’s part of His plan, and He’s sticking to it. He will complete the work He’s doing in you and in me. Not only that, but many such things are in His mind.
“For I know the plans that I have for you…” Jeremiah 29:11
Notice, plans. Not just one, but many. The Lord has many things in His mind for you and me, many purposes and plans, pertaining to every season of our lives.
Most of what He’s doing we can’t see, let alone understand. I think it’s reassuring to remember that we can’t mess it up, despite our failures, despite all that we don’t know. Even the chaos and confusion in our country can’t stop Him.
He didn’t cause the chaos, but rather brings beauty in the midst of it. He’s working every seemingly unrelated thing together for good. He has a unique purpose for each of us—positions we may hold and people we may meet—that He’s appointed before time began. Especially now. Especially in this season.
I’m in Dallas for the summer, interning at a nonprofit law firm called First Liberty Institute.
It’s incredible to see how the Lord opened this door a year ago, and, even with all that’s going on, He’s seen me through it. He’s provided a place for me to live and the most incredible people for me to spend time with. Before I even heard of this place, I had planned to spend my summer studying abroad in Italy. I see now what the Lord had in mind.
I didn’t recognize that upfront and didn’t understand until now, but that’s what it takes. It takes walking through doors by faith, trusting that His plan is better.
There are many things He will appoint for each of us: difficult seasons to walk through, incredible opportunities to take hold of, different tasks we must complete.
There’s something He’s appointed for you right now, in this season, that is so specific. He’s not asking you to completely understand, and He doesn’t need you to figure it out either. He just wants obedience. He wants surrender.
One day, later on, we may get a glimpse of what right now was all about. One day we’ll see the significance of this appointed time. Until then, we continue to live, and we continue to walk it out. We continue to say ‘yes’ to whatever He puts in our way.
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.” Job 23:10-11
