WORRIED ABOUT TIME / EVERYTHING COMES FROM GOD
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.”
[Ecclesiastes 11:4-6, NIV]
At some point in my life, I got myself an enemy. That enemy was time.
It felt like I was always running against it. Not only did I never seem to have enough of it, but I also tried to make up for what I lost. Because truth be told, I wasted most of my 20s. So I became terrified of wasting any more.
Maybe you feel the same, like you wasted your life and desperately want to catch up, so you overthink every little precious second? And you feel the need to understand and control every situation because you are scared to death of wasting any more time. So basically you’re trying to be perfect…
That is why you are actually wasting more time because you are stuck out of fear of making any more wrong decisions.
That fear created two problems in my life. One, I dismissed a lot of good ideas because I worried they would take too long. Two, I dismissed many ideas God gave me because they seemed unproductive.
The irony of the first one was that, after not really getting anywhere, I humbly accepted those good ideas a couple of years later. Had I started when I got them, I would have reached my goals faster. So yes, in my attempt not to waste any more time, I actually wasted more of it.
The second one was not understanding the importance of God’s preparation. Basically, if I didn’t see right away that something would eventually bear fruit (or let’s be honest – fast), I did not do it.
Naturally, I did not react well to obstacles coming my way either – because it seemed like they wasted even more of my precious time.
I was looking at everything through the lens of time instead of through the lens of what God wanted me to do.
Time became my idol.
What God did in His grace was allow me to continue on that path for a while in order to open my eyes.
He allowed me to waste more time. He allowed me to hustle, get overwhelmed, anxious, and worn out. Over time, as life wasn’t working out, I was humbled, and God helped me to see that there is a better way.
He told me to start my business, and in doing so, for the first time in my life, I had to commit to a long process. And although there wasn’t any financial fruit for a long time, I noticed that there was plenty of other fruit – growth.
Now instead of focusing only on the outcome, I am able to focus on the journey and find joy in it. I am able to slow down. Instead of overanalyzing whether something is productive, I choose to trust that God knows best. And if something difficult happens, I know there is a bigger purpose behind it.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” [Romans 8:28, NLT]
An important quote to remember:
“This is not happening TO me, this is happening FOR me.”
Just like Joseph:
“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” [Psalm 105:19, NLT]
Everything seemed contrary to Joseph’s dream, but God taught him things he needed later on.
Will you still serve Jesus even if you don’t see results? Will you still obey even if you don’t understand what He has planned for you? Honestly, you don’t need to know everything, and sometimes it wouldn’t even be good for you. It might overwhelm you. [“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34, NIV]
God is the only One who needs to know everything. He is the One in control. You need to let go and trust Him. Let go of only doing things that seem productive to you.
If you constantly worry about wasting time or not having enough of it, you won’t make time for what God wants you to do.
Children don’t worry about time. They have an idea and engage in it. They get lost in the task and explore it to the fullest.
[“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” – Matthew 18:3-5, NIV]
Children also have complete faith in their parents. They know they can count on them. Have childlike faith in your Father in heaven.
So if the Lord tells you to do something, don’t overthink it. Just do something! If He wants you to do something seemingly unproductive, like writing something down or journaling, write it down. Even if you don’t know why. Focus on doing and not on the outcome.
God will fulfill the dream that He placed within your heart.
Sometimes you won’t know right away if a dream is from Him, but just live each day in full trust. Trust that your life is in His hands; trust that your times and purposes are within His plan. Just plant seeds.
He will decide if something will grow or not.
[“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” – 1 Corinthians 3:7, ESV]
[“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” – Proverbs 19:21, NLT]
God is sovereign. Even if you make a wrong turn, He will redirect you. Rest in knowing that He is in control. You’re not powerful enough to completely mess up God’s plan. [“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:11, NIV]
So stop worrying so much about how much time you already wasted, about how much work is still left, about how long it’s gonna take to get to your destination. Stop worrying about how it’s gonna happen and if you really made the right decision.
Just take small, imperfect, messy steps every day and know that God’s got this.
Oh, and just because God told you to do something doesn’t mean that you have to finish it in one day. It might take you months or even years. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Just stay consistent and enjoy the process.
There is beauty in walking with the Lord.
Don’t rush through life. Be still, make time for the Lord, and think about what He wants to teach you in every season.
Into Your Hands – SongLab ft. David Porcheddu
I’ll Just Say Yes – Brian Courtney Wilson
Your Hands – Stephen McWhirter
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website, including advice and insights, is based on my personal experiences and Christian beliefs. I am not a licensed medical doctor. For any health concerns, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional. Read the full disclaimer here.
