"When God Says 'Not Yet!'"

 

“When God Says ‘Not Yet!’”

 

In the late 1980’s circumstances necessitated our leaving a church and trusting God for our future. Initially I didn’t handle this well but believed I’d soon find another place of service. God, however, said “Not yet!” because there were things I needed to learn before I was ready for the next step in my faith journey. After more than two years (during which time God provided for our family in extraordinary ways) we moved to New Hampshire where He blessed the ministry far beyond our imagination for almost twenty years. His words through His prophet proved true: “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, emphasis added).

Fast forward some nineteen years. I was approaching the “traditional” age for retirement but felt led to prepare for health care chaplaincy. I was accepted into a training program in South Carolina in 2008 but God said “Not yet!” because both our widowed mothers had needs. So we postponed our departure for another year, during which time both our mothers’ needs were addressed and we sold our house under better circumstances than we could have before. Again let God speak, this time through King David: “The steps (and stops—a McMillan paraphrase) of the godly are directed by the Lord.” (Psalm 37:23, NLT).

Four years after moving to South Carolina and serving as a hospice chaplain there Karen and I looked towards “Retirement #2” and planned to move to Florida, our long term desire. But the housing market had tanked in 2013 so God again said “Not yet!” A year later we sold our house for some $20-25,000 more than we could have a year before and it was off to Florida. Again God used David to speak to us: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently before him….” (Psalm 37:7, emphasis added).

In his God-given wisdom Solomon said, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT). So before moving ahead and regretting the outcome (been there, done that) we must say with our Lord’s brother, “…If it is the Lord’s will….” (James 4:15, emphasis added). May we, with the Holy Spirit’s direction, be able to say, “I waited patiently for the Lord….” (Psalm 40:1)—we’ll be glad we did.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan