Without Form and Void

Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV - [1] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [2] The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

When we look back at creation's story, we see the beginning of life as we know it.  Everything we see here on earth had it's beginning in the book of Genesis.  When God first began with earth it was "without form and void".  It was there, but mostly in concept and imagination and wasn't very useful yet.  The earth, as of Genesis 1:2, was just a glimmer in God's eye.  It was the beginning of something that would eventually be beautiful, but there wasn't any real, tangible life yet - no beauty that could be seen.  However, as we read the last sentence of this verse, we see something extraordinarily beautiful happining; "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters".  Earth didn't look like much at first glance, but the Spirit of God was there, waiting for the most opportune time to step in and make something amazing out of the formless void.

I beleive that this same scene is being played out in many lives today.  You are expecting something from God.  You are anticipating that something great will happen, but it still seems formless, empty, and dark.  As time continues to pass, you don't see things changing the way you expect so you get impatient and begin to lose hope.  "Something should have changed by now.  I don't think God is going to do anyting about this situation.  Is He even listening to my prayers?"  Maybe you were expecting something in 2016 and now, as we step into 2017, you are skeptical that God is going to come through.  It may come in 2017 and it may not, but take comfort in knowing that God is hovering over your situaion waiting for the perfect time to act.

There is a perfect time for everything, but that perfect time is determined by God.  The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that "To everything [there is] a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:" (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV) and 2 Peter 3:8 says: "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."  This means that it probably won't happen when we want it to (and probably now how we wanted it to), but it will happen when the timing is just right.  Trust God's timing.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV - [5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Don't give up on God.  He has not forgotten about you, He is not punishing you, and He has heard your prayers.  It may seem like things are empty, dark, and formless right now, but something beautiful is happening.  Keep trusting Him and relying on His plan and timing.  You may not be able to see any progress with your eyes, but exercise some faith and realize that He is hovering over your situation, putting everything in place for the miraculous to happen.  Keep praying, keep beleiving, keep sharing the gospel with the lost because you will reap a great harvest if you hang in there.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV - [9] And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

God IS doing something on your behalf and when it's complete you will be blown away by it's beauty and perfection.  Most of all you will marvel at how everything came together at just the right time, and you will rejoice that you didn't let impatience steal away this great blessing.

Yours for a beautiful new year,
Patrick A. Thomson