Trust God's Timing: Don't Put a Period Where God Has Put a Comma, and Likewise . . . A Guest Post by Jean Wilund

Today's it's my pleasure to welcome my dear friend, writing buddy, and resident theologian, Jean Wilund to Hungry for God. Read deeply, think carefully, and be encouraged. And follow the link at the end to subscribe to Jean's inspiring blog.



Punctuation Matters “Don’t eat, Gigi.” OR “Don’t eat Gigi.” 

Big difference. Punctuation matters. 

Punctuation also matters when it comes to trusting God’s timing.

Don’t put a period where God has put a comma. 

And likewise . . . 

Don't put a comma where God has put a period. 

Commas pause us and encourage us to wait. And rest. They mean God’s still working in the situation. Keep walking by faith. God has not given His final answer. 

Periods stop and turn us. It’s over. Move along. They mean God has spoken. We don't need more information. We need to obey. And rest. We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight. 

When we're in a waiting and wondering phase, figuring out God's timing can feel like navigating a fog-covered road. You have no idea if you're almost at your destination or still far from it. God sees what we can't -- He sees the end from the beginning. 

We, however, must walk by faith through the fog of our future. Our sight doesn’t go even a millisecond beyond the next step. 

But we don't walk in blind faith. God has given us 1,189 chapters of His wisdom and instruction within the pages of the Bible to guide us. And He's given Christians His Holy Spirit to help us understand God's Word and to lead us in all things -- including divine punctuation. 

How Can We Know if God Has Given Us a Period or a Comma? 

One of the surest ways to know if God has given you a period or a comma is to ask yourself if your situation/decision agrees with the Bible. 

If not, there’s your period. 

If it does, rest in the comma. 

Actually, rest in both. If that seems contradictory, let me explain. 

Don't Put a Comma in Marriage Where God has Placed a Period And Vice Versa 

Imagine someone who's not married meets a fascinating guy. They really like him, but he’s married. Period. Done. Move along. There’s no comma on that path. Only a period. 

God may be in the process of bringing them the perfect husband (comma), but it’s not going to be someone else’s (period). 

Embrace the period (it's a good thing) and rest in the comma (it's a good thing.) 

Likewise, don't assume if you're single that you'll never get married. Don't put a period where God has placed a comma. 

God created and blessed the wonderful institute of marriage. A single person has every right to assume they’re living in the comma. Some commas just have longer tails. 

BTW, singleness isn't a curse. It's as much a blessing as marriage. If God calls you to singleness, He will bless you in it. It's not a curse. 

Vice versa, marriage isn't a curse -- in case some of your experiences made you think it is. 

If You've Trusted in Jesus, Don't Put a Comma in Salvation Where God has Placed a Period 

If you've trusted in Jesus Christ for the payment of your sins, your eternal salvation is sealed. Period. It's done. Or as Jesus said, "It is finished." God will not remove the period. Rest in it. Don't put a comma where God has placed a period. 

A comma wrongly says I've trusted in Jesus, and now I must also be baptized or I won't be saved. Or something like I've trusted in Jesus, and now I must do good works or I won't be saved. Rest in the period of the assurance of your salvation, and enjoy the comma phase between when you received your salvation to when you'll see the Lord face-to-face. 

If You've Never Trusted In Jesus, Embrace the Comma of Grace, But Understand a Period is Coming 

If you've never trusted in Jesus for your salvation, you're in a comma. A comma of exceeding grace. But please understand: a period is coming. There's no second chance to trust Christ after we pass from this life. Period. 

Take advantage of the comma and trust in Jesus now before the time comes when the period will settle your destiny with an irrevocable and horrific period. Praise God for the comma He's given you now and turn to Christ. Embrace the period of salvation before the period of judgment makes you long for the comma again. Got it? 

For he [God] says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. ~ 2 Corinthians 6:2 

Listen, Obey, and Rest: God's Timing is Perfect Life happens every day. 

Profound, I know. But it does. And sometimes what happens jolts us and threatens to send us into a tailspin. But it doesn't have to. The truth sets us free when we:

Listen to what God has to say in His Word. 

Obey Him in whatever He's shown us to do. 

Rest in God's faithful timing. Period. 

(Oh, and don't eat Gigi. Ever.)

PS -- If you're living in an exclamation point -- and your shrieks aren't from delight -- seek help. God has commanded us to care for each other. Reach out to your family, friends, church, and even medical professionals if needed.

Jean Wilund is passionate about coffee, comedy, and chocolate, but mostly about sharing God’s life-changing truths through writing, speaking, and teaching. She lives in Lexington with her husband. Their children live scattered around the country. Visit Jean at www.JeanWilund.com.

 

Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.