It Ain’t Gonna Happen . . .
Oxford Language tells us that ain't means: am not; are not; is not; has not; have not. There is NO WAY or is there . . .
We have all had those moments where we believe what we've been earnestly praying for, hoping for, expecting ain't gonna happen. We get derailed and feel like the very life has been sucked out of us.
And then God speaks through His precious word:
After I experience stressful situations (that if HE had answered the prayers I've been praying could totally be avoided) I totally come apart. God usually chooses the hard road and during those uncomfortable moments of chaos, of disorder I find myself asking - why am I praying - You're not listening?
Recently, He led me to read an extremely familiar passage - Philippians 1:3 - 6. I got to verse 6 and the words literally leapt out of the page - UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS.
No where in the Bible when it talks about prayer is a sweet little timeline included in the verse. Pray this and expect an answer in ___ days, weeks, etc. You see, I pray with an expectant heart, believing that my prayer will be answered in a timely manner - my time.
No matter if my prayers concern my heart, other people's hearts, or HARD circumstances, because God is God He knows what's good. His infinite wisdom, His ability to judge righteously, His divine love, all His characteristics make Him the only One Who can sort out our frailties and bring about a harvest of hope - in His perfect timing and in His perfect way!
The problem is, I'm longing for peace and harmony here on earth - it simply ain't gonna happen. The words at the end of verse 6 says the good works that are started in each of us will be carried on to completion until the day of Jesus!
Grace, grace, and more grace is needed as long as we're in this world. Grace for ourselves in the moments where we fail in our journey of sanctification; grace for others as we are all plodding along with Jesus whispering in one ear and the enemy screaming in the other; grace as we endure impossible circumstances that seem to have no solution.
In Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place, Betsie's words after the soldier had beat her, drawing blood, rocked me:
"I feel so sorry for him."
Why did she feel sorry for him, because he didn't know the love of Jesus that she knew. Betsie ten Boom had a vision beyond what was happening to her. Betsie understood that a perfect life cannot happen on this side of Heaven. She understood that even when it didn't seem like it and literally, all hell was breaking loose, God was working until the day of Christ Jesus. That horrific day was not the end of the story.
Next time you find yourself in a "this ain't gonna happen" moment, remember this:
God is faithful and HE WILL COMPLETE what He's started
In the meantime, He'll give You grace for yourself and others. Don't give Him a timeline, just entrust your heart and the hearts of those you love to Him until the day of Christ Jesus ~
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