The longer a person is a Christian, the better the chances are that s/he has struggled at some point with God's timing. It is not unusual to wonder why God delays in granting our prayer requests—whether it be for a new job opportunity in this tough economy, for a sick child to become well, for an infertile couple to have a baby, for an unbelieving relative or friend to come to faith, etc. Such seeming silence to perfectly reasonable requests (from our perspective) soon become causes of doubt about God's love for us and his awareness of our needs.
It is often said that the cross of Jesus is the definitive proof of God's love for his people. This is undoubtedly true. I would also contend that the cross is the definitive proof that God's timing is perfect. We read in Galatians 4:4:
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children" (NRSV).
The Bible teaches that God sent his Son into the world to redeem humanity and reconcile us to himself, and in his infinite wisdom he saw fit to send him during the era of Roman rule--knowing fully well that a Roman cross would be the method of his Son's execution.
Life will provide its share of frustration and heartache over God's timing. Some prayers will go unanswered this side of heaven. But the Christian life is ultimately a journey of faith--of believing in a reality we cannot see with our eyes. In the midst of this the message of Christmas enables us to quietly trust God's perfect timing and join the chorus singing these well-known lyrics:
Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Merry Christmas!
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