"When God, when?"

**Sit quietly, eyes closed, for one minute before reading.**

“God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, Ecclesiastes 3:11a

    At times it is nearly impossible to see how this verse makes sense, how it is true. We cannot imagine how God can bring together suffering, challenges or even evil to make something beautiful.
    It is often difficult to see how God can take a million puzzle pieces and fit them together into something beautiful. We cannot imagine what beautiful picture He is working towards and why He is taking so long. So, equally as difficult is waiting for the time in which these pieces will come together. “When God, when?”, we ask.
    When will He heal our daughter? When will He return our brother home? When will our parents stop fighting? When will He stop the chaos of abuse, violence, exploitation, war? “When God, when?”, we ask.
    In our heart wrenching request to know when, God works with the final picture in mind. He sees the picture of what is to come and asks us to hope and to trust. Hope for that which we cannot see through trusting Him. Trust. There it is again. Not easy.
    What are the puzzle pieces in your life that you are wondering about? How is your heart in the waiting?
Is there something in your life that you cannot imagine being redeemed into something beautiful? Talk to God, let Him know, ask Him for faith and allow Him to meet you.

**Sit again in quiet for as long as is available to you.**