"At just the right time" -- by Dorothy Richards

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Pete and I often say that God is 'a God of just in time'. So many times we have been waiting for answers to problems, or for something to happen and it seems to take forever. We get very impatient and, I'm sorry to say, sometimes quite worried and we are very tempted to take things into our own hands. Yet, at exactly the right time, God intervenes and our prayers are answered (not always a 'yes' – but God knows best!).
Our younger daughter, Claire, and her husband are part of the Vineyard movement, and about 18 months ago they felt they were being asked to 'plant' a new church. They didn't know where or when but in time God revealed His plans to them. As they had no definite timetable, they couldn't make real preparations such as putting their house in Nottingham up for sale. Then, in January this year, God revealed that it would be Bristol and so, for various reasons, they planned their move for May. As you can imagine, it didn't leave a lot of time for selling their home and finding somewhere else to live, not in this financial climate. However, they put their house on the market and within a week (much to everyone's amazement) it had been sold. Why are we always surprised when God acts?
On the other hand, our older daughter, Jo, and her husband had their house on the market for 18 months, without selling. They wanted to be nearer the school their son, James, started at in September. It was tempting to say that it was not fair that their sale was taking so long, while Claire's was so quick – but that would have been to take the glory away from God for what He was doing in Claire's life. Eventually however, Jo and Andrew sold their house and were planning to buy another which, to their mind, was the perfect house - right opposite the school, even if it did need a certain amount of work on it. (Call it a house with potential!) At long last, we all thought that God was answering our prayers. But it wasn't to be. After a lot of hassle the deal 'fell through', which left them virtually homeless as they had been staying with some very generous parents (not us). The only option at the time was to rent a house in the short term. They quickly found a suitable one within walking distance of the school, and hopefully it has given them a time of stability to collect their thoughts and plan their next move (please excuse the pun!).
We don't understand why God sometimes says 'yes', 'no' or 'not yet'. It so often feels as if life is a waiting game. All through the Old Testament God had been promising that a Saviour would come to save the people from their sins. He didn't say how, He didn't say when, that Saviour would come but, at exactly the right time, He sent Jesus - according to His schedule. Jo and Andrew are now waiting to see what will happen next and I suspect that God has something even better in mind.
We have just celebrated Christmas and now we look forward to celebrating the next Advent – it may be another Christmas, it may be Christ's coming. We don't know when but we do know that He will come again, at just the right time. Until then, as with most situations in life, we wait and, hopefully, we wait with patience for God to act. In lots of instances patience isn't very plentiful but in Psalm 46 v 10 God reassures us that He is in charge and He knows just what He is doing: 'Be still and know that I am God'. The important thing is not to miss the blessings God showers upon us in the meantime.
The word 'coincidence' is often used but perhaps 'God-incidence' might be better. Yes, He is 'a God of just in time' but, more than that, He's a God of perfect timing!