Colby came up with this blog title from the verse in 1 Samuel 1:20 – And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.
But there are also two other verses that speak to God’s perfect timing.
1 Peter 5:6 – Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Galatians 6:9 – And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
I love the message version of Galatians 6:9-10 – So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
‘In Due Time’ tells us that there is an appointed time for when our harvest will be ready. Just like farmers don’t reap their harvest the day after planting their crops, we too must wait. We can’t expect to pray a prayer and it be answered the next day. We must have patience and activate our faith while we wait.
I find it interesting that in the ancient world, the phrase ‘lose heart’ was used for the fear and weariness a woman experienced during her labor, but before delivery. Clearly I don’t know what either of those are like, but I imagine the labor is hard, painful, and will make you weary. Labor is also a time that is unfinished and unrewarding but any woman in labor must press forward and she will receive the blessing and reward of her child.
It seems very discouraging to pray and do everything right and receive no results or answers. In this verse Paul challenged the Galatians and us to keep steadfast, to keep doing good, and to not give up.
The Lord has told us to wait on Him and that He will bring us our babies naturally and soon. Sometimes it can be so tempting to pick up that ovulation kit or call the doctor to set up an appointment to start medication and IVF. It gets harder as I look at all the pregnancies and all of those people pursing fertility treatments around me. I know that if I take matters into my own hand things will not turn out nearly as good as they will if I obey the Lord so I must continue to be steadfast and obedient to the Lord.
Whatever you are waiting for will be worth the wait, because in due time you will reap your harvest.
