We’ve all heard the saying, “Timing is everything.” But I’ve learned that it’s not my timing that matters most—it’s God’s.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Over the years, I’ve discovered that God’s work is never rushed. Every season has a purpose, even when we can’t yet see it. 

In the 1900 era, yes, I’m that old, I was attending college at NDSU. At that time, I was living a wild and carefree life. Although the conviction to live my life for the Lord was there, I chose to bury it in order to satisfy my earthly desires. Those desires led to the unwed pregnancy of my first born. At that time, I don’t think I would have said ‘this is perfect timing’ because in fact, it wasn’t. I had at least one more year in order to complete my degree. I was alone and unwed. And, I was financially unable to support a life with a baby, at that time. BUT God! He placed the desire within me to keep my baby. 

However, I know this is not everyone’s story. There are some that make the difficult decision to place their baby up for adoption. Both are choices that require prayer, that are bathed in love, and ultimately the deep desire to do what is best for that beautifully, hand-knit (by God) creation!  For me, there was NEVER a doubt in my mind that I would keep my baby and raise him up to know The Father who gifted him to me.

But please, please, please, know that if you are at the crossroads of deciding what is best for all who are involved, I see you. I see the pain. I feel the tears stinging your eyes as you weigh your options. And I know that this is probably one of THE most difficult decisions you will ever make. I want you to know that you are NOT alone! In fact, there are people who can help you and give you wise counsel.  Finally, you have not been abandoned to make this decision on your own. There IS help available!! 

You may ask, what does that have to do with today and God’s timing??!  God has allowed me the opportunity to speak life into another person who is walking through a similar situation with her young daughter. I saw her post yesterday and felt the nudge to reach out and encourage her. I shared some of my story (as she didn’t know that I too was a young, single mom at one point and time).  I shared how my own mom exhibited grace and mercy to me (never condemnation). I reminded myself and her, that my mom’s prayers and support brought me through to today. Today, my mom’s prayers and presence is still one of the best gifts I could have/and still do receive. In fact, I believe part of the reason we share a special bond today is because of the hardship we faced together (single-parenting). In my mom’s words ‘it was only God’ that orchestrated it all.. to turn what seemed like a mess, into a message. 

Talk about timing, if I hadn’t already walked the road of a young, unwed mom, I would never have had the compassion, insight or love to speak words of life to her. God used ‘yesterdays’ story to encourage her. It’s true: God uses IT ALL! Every nuance, every trial, every hardship ..He uses it. The best part of all, He makes it beautiful, too! God used my not so pretty story and He turned it around for good. Now, I can confidently say to her and you too, ‘I made it! And she and her daughter will make it too!’ The beauty: It’s a trickle effect. Eventually their story will someday encourage another... demonstrating how God makes EVERYTHING beautiful, in His time.

If you are stuck in the middle, the ugly + not-beautiful season, may I encourage you and your heart? I’d like to remind you that God sees it all. He sees the pain. He sees the tears (He counts them too). He sees the ‘not-yet season.’ He sees you waiting. He sees you bowed low and disheartened. He sees, yet He cares enough to enact His ‘perfect’ timing into your life. Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” At just the right time, God’s•perfect•time, He will make it happen. And not only will He make ‘it’ happen, He’s such a Good Good Father that He will make it beautiful too!