To Late!
What is the feeling you get when you realize that you are too late? Maybe there are some things that you are late for that don’t really bother you, like being late to church or to an appointment. But there are other things that you may have a sinking feeling in your stomach when you realize you did not make it, like your flight or maybe being late to work when you know it could mean you lose your job.
We are human and we can disappoint people many times because we are late or forget different things. Maybe we forget an anniversary, birthday, or some special occasion. Or maybe we miss or are late to a funeral, wedding, or something that means a lot to someone if we are there. What would it be like if you are a bride or groom and you are late for your wedding? There could be a lot of feelings like fear and anger.
What about God?
So what about God is He ever late? In human thinking, I think we would all say at times, yes. But when we go through a situation and we are able to look back most of the time we can see His leading and know that He is always right on time.
We have been in business for ourselves for close to 30 years in our area and it has not been the greatest since 2008. After that time, we were not surviving and ended up in a lot of credit card debt. For the last couple of years, we have not had money to pay our taxes so we have had to do an extension.
I finally went to work outside the home to try to help and we also started another business. For our 2016 tax year, we had to extend and we filed in October of 2017. We had some money we could send when we filed but we did not have the full amount. We kept praying and asking for jobs with our new business because we knew if we just got one good job we could pay our taxes. But it did not come. Then one day we finally got a job. It would be enough to pay our taxes but then there is a waiting game because we get paid from insurance companies. God had it all under control because the check came like a day or two before the IRS bill.
God hurry up!
Have you ever felt frustrated with God about His timing? I have been there multiple times and I know He is trying to teach me to trust Him. And because I am failing He keeps bringing me around to the same trial again. He wants me to trust Him no matter what happens.
Our taxes for 2017 were no different. We had to extend and actually file in October. I kept thinking I don’t have to worry because God has this, He will supply it when I need it. But the time kept going by and no job to cover the taxes. We filed in October of this year and were not even able to send money with the filing. So we waited for the bill and the fine that would result.
And praise the Lord again we got a big job that would pay our taxes but there was a hitch. The insurance company was not paying as quickly. They were taking their time. We had not received the tax bill yet but I knew it would be coming soon. I started to get anxious and frustrated. I failed to trust.
Soon the tax bill came and still no check. I was like “Lord, why?” My husband would call the company. The person that writes the check is out of the office. Or the most famous line of insurance company’s is “We are dropping it in the mail today.” And then you call them a week later and they just dropped it in the mail yesterday.
I was rather fit to be tied at this point. Knowing that a double fine was going to be happening if we did not get this check in the mail. Yes, the check finally came. It was going to be late so I tried to pay online but could not get it to work so we did second-day air to try and get it there on time and paid extra for it to happen. Of course, it did not happen. So it was late and yes we got more of a fine.
What is God trying to teach me?
So I start to question, what does God want to teach me through this whole experience. I know that He wants me to trust Him through each circumstance. A big thing that I am realizing is it is all His money. If He wants to “waste” money on fines then it is really His business.
What I do is I start to look at all the things that I could use the money for, the bills that I could pay off so that we are closer to being out of debt, etc. But God has other plans. He wants to refine my character. My money, time, family, debt, etc. all belong to Him and I need to let Him work out the details. We have been following a plan to become debt free and I need to just give everything to Him and allow Him to keep it instead of continually taking it back. The thing is that He always comes through. It may seem late to me but His timing is never late.
I am sure I am not the only one that struggles with these issues. I encourage you to trust Him fully. And I can attest that God always comes through. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7
Dear Father,
I know that You want to teach us to trust You. Please forgive us where we have failed. Give us the courage and strength to lay all in Your hands and to leave it there. Thank You for Your love and patience with us. Your love is way beyond our comprehension and we struggle with understanding it. But we thank You for it.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Surrender all to Jesus today. He loves you and wants the best for you.
Love you all.
Do you have an experience that you can look back and see the hand of God, even though when you were going through it you could not? I would love you to share your experience below.