God Orchestrates

Why does it take too long? At times God does not instantly give us the answer or bring us to the place where He wants us to be. Sometimes it takes time before what God has planned will come to full realization in our life. God does answer prayer but it is not all the time that He gives immediate relief or immediate solution. He allows time to pass and experiences to enrich.

When it takes some time before we could see God’s answer or promise come to realization, we may tend to feel hopeless or frustrated. We wonder why it takes too long to happen. Will we ever experience help or rescue? Will we taste salvation? Does God hear? When will the time come when God shall answer? These questions are what David asked God in Psalms 13.

“How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me? Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death; lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed against him;’ lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to Yahweh, because he has been good to me.”

– Psalms 13:1-6 (WEB)

Like David, we sometimes feel that God is distant. We feel anxious. We long for His arm of salvation from our problems and trials. But may we also, like David, concludes the same thing that God is trustworthy and we can trust His loving kindness towards us. When we are waiting for God’s rescue or answer, we can rejoice in Him because God remains good.

God is in control and He orchestrates what He has willed to be. Bible characters such as David understand this too well. David had faced opposition from the king of Israel himself, King Saul. King Saul wanted to kill him but with several chances that David got to kill King Saul and live free from the threats, David never laid a hand on the king whom he referred to as the anointed of God.

When God rejected King Saul, He commanded prophet Samuel to choose one of the sons of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, to be anointed as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). But the throne was not immediately given to David. In fact, he suffered from the hand of King Saul, having the need to escape and hide from King Saul for fear of his life. Even when king Saul died, David had to face the resistance of the house of Saul and years of wars was between the house of Saul and that of David (2 Samuel 3). It took years long after before he was made king of Israel yet it was the plan and will of God that David shall be king of Israel.

At the right time, after long years of strife, Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, went against the son of Saul, Ishbosheth who was king over Israel (2 Samuel 2:8-11) while David was king over Judah. Abner was greatly angered by Ishbosheth who disapproved Abner’s going in to Rizpah, the concubine of Saul (2 Samuel 3:6-11). Because of this, Abner allied with David and promised to help him regain his kingship over all Israel. Thus, God’s plan was slowly unfolding through the change of heart of Abner who was formerly loyal to the house of Saul.

God is sovereign. Things in our perception may be too slow to unfold. Yes, they may be, but God’s hand never misses out in perfect control of every event and time. God does not forget His plan. He moves and works according to His perfect timing. David had not received the crown in an instant. But He honored, waited, and trusted God to bring His will to completion.

God orchestrates it all. What He wills and plans will never be broken. It shall come to pass for He is a sovereign God. Keep trusting. Keep waiting and rejoicing of His goodness and loving kindness. He shall keep His Word and He shall move mightily. Wait upon the Lord. Trust God’s timing.

“… but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.”

– Isaiah 40:31 (WEB)