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Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you’re well. Last week, my mom had a gum ache on her right side and it caused her right cheek to be swollen. Once in a while, she used to have a toothache or a gumache, and I used to give her painkillers. Since I went to the oriental medicine clinic for acupuncture last year, however, I took her to that clinic for gumache and swollen cheek. After an acupuncture for inflammation, she would be healed in a day. So, last Tuesday morning, I tried to make an online reservation for the clinic. Thankfully, 9:30am timeslot was available for both of us. Usually morning time is more jam-packed and patients should wait for +30 minutes, even with reservation. But, in that morning, I was surprised to see only one patient before us, and soon enough our turn to meet the doctor. When we came back home, I realized it only took less than one hour. Maybe the bad weather (snowing) made less patients, but the bad weather also could have made it hard for us to grab a cab. But everything on that day was so smooth and fast. And I was simply thankful for the Father’s goodness and shared it with my friend in Singapore. And she replied in her text that she understands how I feel. In fact, on that day, she took a day off and she went to Johor Bahru in Malaysia with her friend, which is the border area between Singapore and Malaysia. And she said it took them only 30 minutes to get there, unbelievably. And I felt the Lord was speaking to me through these incidents that my friend and I experienced on that day. Not only on that day, but in a couple of days, I booked the oriental medicine for mom again, as her gumache and her swollen cheek were not healed soon this time. Again, I was able to make a reservation for 9:30am. It was a Friday morning, and Friday mornings are more jam-packed than other days, as the clinic is closed on every Thursday. Before going to the clinic, I said to the Father, “Father, could I have time for a stroll before lunch, if mom and I were able to come back home soon?” I wanted to take a walk in a nice sunny weather, though I had a bodyache. I wanted to have a short therapeutic Me time. Again, to my amazement, in that Friday morning, we came back home from the clinic within an hour since we left home. It was unbelievably quick, compared with my past experience. And sure enough, I was able to take a walk before preparing for lunch, enjoying seeing and hearing birds flying and chirping. Everything was perfect. I couldn’t thank the Father, enough, especially when I knew my heart attitude over the past few days. Since mom was sick last week, I was stressed out. But, rather than I pitied her, I pitied myself. I didn’t have a compassionate heart for her, though she felt sick. I only thought how stressed I was and how hard it was for me to take her to the clinic. I actually ended up having a bodyache, after taking her to the clinic for three days. All the way, I was full of self-pity and self-centeredness. God doesn’t look at the outward appearance, but the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7b) Outwardly, I might have seemed to be a good daughter, looking after my old mom. But, my heart was full of self-pity and grumbling. Yet, the Father was so kind and merciful to me that He listened to my heart’s desire. And I was also able to be reminded of the recent experience on writing a blog. I couldn’t think of what I would write so that I didn’t write any. And I said to Him, “Father, I must write a blog and post it today. Would You please help me?” Interestingly enough, He helped me finish writing a blog within 2 hours. I was stunned, as I procrastinated it for a whole week, preoccupied with other stuffs. Yet, He was merciful to me and heard my cry. After all these, interestingly enough, I came to read John 6:15~21: Jesus Walks on the Sea Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. And my eyes were fixed on the word “immediately” I underlined in my Bible. I recalled the time when this word was highlighted to me for the first time, and I also recalled Pastor John Fenn mentioning it: Missed the Timing, God Makes it Up! There is also good news in the scripture for those who have missed heaven’s timing in their lives. Three Gospels record Jesus walking on the water: Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52; and John 6:15–21. Each account provides a slightly different perspective of the same event. All three record that Jesus told the disciples to go to the other side of the lake while he sent the people away and then went up into the mountains to pray. Mark 6:48 tells us that when Jesus was walking on the water, he “would have passed by them” in the boat. It wasn’t until they cried out for fear that Jesus altered his course and, as Matthew records, extended an invitation to Peter to walk on the water. Jesus would have walked right on by them. Why? Because Jesus had given them an order. His order was for them to go to the other side of the lake. Yes it was windy that night, but the order stood, and he was going to hold to his plan to be at the other side by morning. Jesus is the same today as he was then. He issues orders for our lives and expects to meet us on the other side. Yes, he knows the contrary winds make it difficult, but he expects us to be there! The good news is that he is merciful. You might be thinking, “John, you said there was good news for those of us who have missed heaven’s timing, where is it?” the answer is found in John’s recording of this event. John 6:21 says: “Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” They had been delayed by the wind and waves, and all their rowing had gotten them only part-way across the lake. Jesus wanted to walk on by them to keep his divine appointment on the other side. But when they cried out with fear Jesus came over to them, and, after Peter walked, sank, then walked back to the boat with Jesus, Jesus stepped into the boat “and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” Jesus transported a whole boat with twelve men plus himself to the other side of the lake so he could keep with heaven’s timing! Perhaps you, too, started on a journey you knew the Lord had commanded, but the contrary winds of circumstance and human frailty kept you rowing hard against them, not making progress, though in your heart you wanted to be with Jesus on the other side. Good news! When Jesus gets into your boat he will make up for lost time by transporting you to where you should have been all along—with nothing lost! Cry out to him and allow him to come to the boat of your life. He will restore you back into heaven’s plan and set your life to be in unison with heaven’s timing. (From Pursuing the Seasons of God) Isn’t this marvelous? The Father is merciful and He made up lost time. Whether we missed His timing due to our lack of faith and/or our circumstances, He would restore us back in His plan. We simply cry out to God, who is the Author of our times. A couple of years back, I had an impression in my heart from the Father, as if He were saying, “Babe, My watch is perfect. It’s not a second earlier, nor a second later.” And I believe He meant what He said. I was reminded of the personal prophecy I received through Irene Wong a few years back: Divine Acceleration is the supernatural ability of God to bring His plans, His purposes, and His will for you to come to pass at a much faster rate than is humanly possible. Friend, I shared some of my recent stories. Though I’m not perfect, being still selfish and self-centered, He is merciful and teaches me through all these circumstances. You might have felt you’ve been in the boat delayed by wind and waves like the disciples. But He is faithful to keep His divine appointment, saying “I will meet you there.” I hope this encourages and blesses you. Have a bliss! Julie Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, Comments are closed.
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