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“Timing is Everything.”

“God have I been out of my comfort zone long enough?” That question rolls through my head all day, every day, during the past two weeks when I am working at Koh Sirey—aka the Land. After being told to climb in the swamp to clear the waterway, I began to complain, making it my job. No matter how badly I did, it was still mine. Being the nature girl that I am (sarcasm) I was chosen to work with the Hook of Death, Machete of Hope, Hoe of Retribution, and the Claw of Doom in a dirty, musty, smelly, muddy infested swamp.
 
A little background…Koh Sirey is land that SHE Ministries bought, and will soon have a pool, coffee shop, living quarters, offices, house for the family in charge, etc. Every afternoon we spend a couple of hours doing manual labor for the family, including hoeing, picking up rocks/garbage, painting, cleaning the swamp, yard work, etc. It is tiring work, but we are always reminded that we are part of the big picture, and Koh Sirey will soon be helping and changing a lot of people’s lives.
 
Because the past couple times I knew that I was about to step foot into the water of unknown, I started to pray to Jesus continuously to clean the waters and every living thing. Everyone hears of the monsters in the water; it’s terrifying stepping into the unknown. I always knew that God was teaching me a lesson, because I grew less terrified everyday, and I knew God was wanting to teach me intimacy, comfort, and being content in the times because God knows all.
 
But today, I heard God say, “Tori, my precious daughter, will you step in the land of unknown for me? Will you trust me enough to know that you are safe and that I am with you? Reach another level of trust with me, to grow in intimacy with me.”
 
God, this trip was already another trusting level with you? Traveling across the world to Thailand, the food, the people, the climate, the culture shock, no air conditioning J, fighting Satan against human trafficking. That is out of my comfort zone. I don’t need to add the swamps of Thailand to the list. God, I have trusted you this far, what else do you want to teach me? You have taught me so much on this journey and prior to it, but more challenging, stepping-stones to increase my faith.
 
Who knew that while playing in the swamp God would teach me so much? No matter the obstacle, no matter the jump, or whether or not we can’t see what is ahead of us, God is there. He has our life mapped out from before we were born. He knows what’s going to happen before it happens. God is there, always. God is real. God died for us, and suffered for our sins and mistakes we make.
 
Each time I step foot in the swamp, I am trusting God. Every day, he puts me out of my comfort zone to teach me, so I can rely on him even more. I don’t know what is going to happen in the next month, the next six months, or even the next year, but the most important thing that I don’t remind myself enough is that God has it under control. He has a plan. He will guide me. That I need to put my trust in him, 110% of my trust, putting my life in the palm of his hands.
 
I have always known that God knows what will happen. His timing is the best because he knows best. But it really clicked while I was standing in the waters of the unknown…aka thigh high in water with knee high in mud. I have to trust God, learn to be more intimate with him each day. I already trust God, of course, but not with 110% of my life, but I don’t have to be worried. This trust that makes the days go by easier and less stressful. I am his beloved, his pride and joy, his bride, his princess; he has my life taken care of. I just have to trust in his timing.
 
His timing is perfect.
 

 
 

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