Time is one of those illusive concepts I have a hard time grasping. It doesn’t seem to follow any natural laws. If I’m having a good time, it passes by really fast! But when I’m bored and miserable, it creeps by like molasses. How fair is that? I don’t know about you, but in the past decade, I’m sensing a speeding up of time. It seems to take less time for a day to pass, a week, a year . . . In fact, it seems to be moving so fast, I sometimes forget what month or year it is. (Partially due to old age, no doubt.)
To be honest with you, time has become my enemy. Like a cruel taskmaster, it lurks over me with whip in hand, waiting to strike me down for not accomplishing my tasks within its boundaries. And don’t get me started on what time is doing to my face and body.
That’s why it is always such a comfort to me to know that God exists outside of time. In fact, God created time and set it in motion like the sands sifting through an hourglass. And someday, those sands will run out, and the Lord will return to claim His own and make all things new!
Until that day, I’m also comforted by the fact that because God created time, He can also manipulate time. In fact, He does so several times in the Bible. He held the sun still for Joshua during an important battle. And in Isaiah 38, God moved time backward for Ahaz as a sign that He will do what He promised.
One of my favorite stories is found in John 6 where Jesus is walking on the water.
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; (John 6:19–21 KJV)(Literally I AM—releasing the power of Almighty God by using His name) be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
Jesus tells the disciples to go to the other side of the lake, but a huge storm sweeps in and not only delays them but threatens their lives. When Jesus comes to them, walking on the water, they think He’s a ghost and become frightened; but afterward, when they realize who He is, Jesus gets in the boat and voilà, instantly they are at the other side of the lake! Talk about a supernatural transporter.
The lesson? No matter how much you have on your plate, no matter how badly you’re pressed for time, if you’re in God’s will, it doesn’t matter how many storms blow in to interrupt your schedule. God can fast-forward time or slow down time and make it so you meet every deadline, every commitment. Just trust in Him.
MaryLu Tyndall