"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

God often says the two little words "Not now." When we remember that, we have caught one of the deep secrets of the Christian life. He has said them to every one of us who has asked Him for something that we wanted very badly, to every soul that has carried the heat and burden of life.

God has His own timetable for us. When we think that the hour for joy has come, He may say, "Not now," and lead us into the valley of the shadow. When we feel that we should see the fulfillment of some cherished plan, He whispers, "Not now," and allows us to experience disappointment and failure.

It is the very heart of the Christian life to know that His ways are always good. They were good when He waited 4,000 years before He sent His only Son to redeem us. They were good on Good Friday and Easter and Pentecost. In His own time He does all things well.

Not now! When we know the meaning of these little words, we can know the joy and peace of the obedient and surrendered heart. We can know that darkness may be our darkness before His dawn. He loves us forever, deeply and tenderly, even when He says, "Not now."

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us to remain confident of Your love for us even when You tell us, "Not now." Assure us of Your promise to bring good out of even our dark times. Amen.

(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996 (out of print), Concordia Publishing House. For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)

Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 34-36    Romans 4

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