Learning to Appreciate Time
Time… isn’t it a funny thing? I’ve spent the majority of my high school and college years scared of it. I felt like time was constantly slipping away and I wanted to hold on to my family and friends and the (what appeared to be) perfect little town I grew up in. I didn’t want to face the truth that all these things were, and still are, temporary. I avoided thinking about it all even after learning what Jesus has ahead for us far outweighs any of it. In fact, time and change are two things that so often kept me up at night. I didn’t want to get old, I didn’t want things to change… I wanted to keep living my comfortable and familiar life. A few nights ago, I went on a walk with a dear friend. I was talking to her about this whole concept of time and how it is something I fear. I was explaining to her how it just keeps feeling like time is slipping away. After listening to me talk for quite some time, my friend pointed me back to the truth, which I am so grateful for. She reminded me that in scripture time is something that is always coming, not going. And this is how we should be viewing it. After readjusting my thoughts and hearing this perspective of it, I immediately pulled out my Bible when I got home.
- “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice.” -John 5:28
- “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” -John 4:23
- “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” -Galatians 4:4
- “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” -Mark 1:15
- “Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” -Acts 3:21
- “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” -John 4:21
- “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” -2 Timothy 4:3
- “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” -John 2:4
- “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” -Romans 13:11
These verses are just a few of the ones revealed to me. I know for a fact there are so many more examples.
Time, it’s a gift, and it comes.
It took several years of following Jesus and growing in Him to learn and experience that. And with time comes opened eyes to the seeds that have been planted and the fruit that bears when we abide in Him. It takes time to see our prayers answered.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven. -Ecclesiastes 3:1
Jesus views everything in a high and powerful way. We all know God is good. That’s one of the first things we learn as Christians. Everything He has created is for good, so why would I ever view the concept of time in such a negative light? What amazes me so often is how when I redirect my thinking to His way of thinking, everything becomes much more clear and I can see it through light.
My friends, if we are so stunned by what God has done, then imagine all that God has waiting. And all that will come. How beautiful. I wrote a little quick poem about time and I think I’ll carry it around with me from time to time:
