We’ve been talking about the answers God gives to our prayers. This is a bit of a longer blog series, so to help orient you to where we are so far, here’s a little map!
Answers God Gives (series map):
3. Slow
c) ***
Concluding Thoughts
(You can click on the links above to refresh your memory on anything we've already discussed.)
So far, we’ve talked about when He says “yes”, including an important caution about our attitude towards getting what we want. We’ve also talked about “no” as a valid answer to our prayers. Now we’re in the midst of examining cases in which He might say “slow” to us. In order words, “Yes, you’re free to proceed, but go slowly.” There are several possible reasons for this; we've examined the nuances of two already. We’ll examine a third one today.
C) We move too fast
We like to accomplish things. This feels good. It gives us joy. It keeps us motivated.
And yet, "with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day." [1]
God views and experiences time radically differently from us.
We may take it for granted that the God of the universe, with limitless power and wisdom, would want to accomplish His goals quickly. And, because of His incomparable power, we suspect He could do so. We survey our surroundings with discontent, and sometimes even begin to question our beliefs about God's wisdom and power in light of delays we deem unacceptable or incomprehensible.
We are right: God could move quickly. But when we give in to an impatient mindset, it's possible that we have forgotten some of His goals.
One major goal, which the Bible communicates to us right from the beginning of creation, is that God made us in His own image. In order for human beings to retain their characteristic human beingness, their free will must be preserved. We cannot become automatons, mindless robots carrying out the will of God. Instead, He tenderly leads us on a sometimes-excruciating-sometimes-joy-filled journey from sin to surrender, repentance, renewal, and restoration.
Each of these processes requires time. And God, in His infinite wisdom and patience, stoops Himself to meet us in our brokenness and defeat. He gently pulls our feet from the mire of our disgrace, cleans them, and anoints our heads with the oil of joy and gladness. [2]
"Rise up, my bride," He gently whispers. "Enter into the justification to which I have called you, and step into My glory." [3]
Sometimes He moves quickly, but just as often—in my experience, more often—He moves slowly. People's hearts need time. He desires that none should perish. [4] Not one of those who are His will be left behind. [5]
During our life as missionaries in Japan, God has taught us extensive lessons on trusting and following His voice. We've learnt to always put on the armour of God before distributing flyers within our community. Japan is a place of much idolatry, which the Bible tells us is really the worship of demons. We've noticed that these evil spirits seem to especially hang around certain streets and houses.
We typically submit our flyer distribution routes to the Lord as we walk them, and allow Him to dictate where we go and where we don't. Sometimes avoiding a certain area seems to be for our own protection, but at other times He may have different purposes in mind.
As we distribute each flyer into its mailbox, we pray for the owners of those mailboxes, for their families, and whoever specifically receives that flyer. We also ask God whether or not we should be depositing a flyer in each mailbox before we do so.
Sometimes He says, "No."
The Bible tells us that our Heavenly Father desires that all will be saved, and that none should perish. So why not distribute the flyers freely? Why skip some houses and mailboxes? Shouldn't we spread the seed of the good news of Jesus to everyone?
Of course we should. But...
We cannot ignore the issue of timing.
There is a whole sect of Japanese Buddhism that despises Christians and vocally opposes Christ. Imagine someone belonging to this sect receiving a Christian flyer in their mailbox. For such a polarized group, emotional reactions may be extreme.
One possible reaction for someone like this could be anger and indignation that their mailbox has been violated and polluted by our advertising and messages about Jesus. Of course, receiving a flyer in their mailbox may yield fruit in the long term, should they at some point remember it when they began to ask questions about Jesus and become seekers.
However, it is also possible that being exposed to our flyers at the wrong time will mean that their hearts are more fully shuttered, locked, and chained shut against receiving the good news of Jesus in the future.
Alternatively, the Holy Spirit may currently be working in someone else’s heart. Over time, they may soften and have questions about spiritual things. Such a person may welcome our literature immediately—and perhaps this is the type of person to whom God freely allows us to give a flyer.
He also knows we have limited time and resources. Perhaps skipping the mailbox of a hardhearted person today will mean that a softhearted person receives a flyer instead.
There is no way for us to know what is inside each of these people's hearts. Their own family members may not even know.
But God knows.
So, we submit the decision-making to Him. In His wisdom, He will tell us into which mailboxes we should insert flyers, and which to skip.
Perhaps one of our most dramatic ministry stories on the subject of going slowly is that of Barb and Bart. We’ve mentioned them in our newsletters before, so I won’t share the whole story here, but let me provide a high-level summary.
We first met Barb and Bart through a violin ministry Peter was doing in a local community park. Over time, we would become good friends with them, and they would begin attending church weekly, coming out to ESL classes, English-language worship services, cooking clubs—the whole nine yards. They were spiritually famished, and eventually told us they were interested in becoming Christians.
But there was a problem. Barb and Bart didn’t want to give up worshipping their idols and ancestors. A few weeks before, during a meal at Barb and Bart’s house, Peter and I had become aware of their stance on idolatry. At the time, we both had the instinct to correct their various false impressions. But, as we sat across the room from each other, the Holy Spirit instructed us both to keep our mouths shut.
As we closed our mouths, disconcerted but not daring to disobey, we comforted ourselves with the memory that in the Japanese culture, smiling and nodding does not imply that you agree with someone. It is often used to simply affirm the value you place on the relationship, and not the truth of any statements made within it.
When Barb and Bart continued to pursue the idea of becoming Christians and the pastor of Seaside Chapel told them that they would have give up their idols if they wanted to follow Jesus, they severed all ties with the church and all things Christian—except for us.
In the end, God would use us to draw Barb and Bart back to Him. Eventually they would become Christians, knowing full well what they were getting into, and be baptized.
If we hadn't listened to God's "slow", it's possible that this precious couple might never have become Christians. Because we waited when instructed to do so, God worked powerfully in Barbara and Bart's life to bring them into His family.
Next time, we’ll talk about a fourth possible answer God might give to our requests.
NOTES
[1] 2 Peter 3:8, NASB.
[2] See Psalm 45:7, Isaiah 61:3.
[3] See Romans 8:30.
[4] 2 Peter 3:9.
[5] See John 6:39.
