The Timing Of The Lord

Today I found my very first New Year's Eve journal entry. I have so many journals filled from over the years, and my first journal entry ever was when I was 8 years old in 1983. So on New Year's Eve on December 31, 1983, I wrote: "Today is New Year's Eve. Tomorrow is 1984. When I get 20 or 30, it will be the year of 2000. I wonder what it will be like? I love everybody, especially Jesus and His Father God." Ha, ha! Too funny!

Well, the year 2000 has come and is long gone. There's been a lot of water under the bridge since 1983. I'm way past 30 right now, and I still love Jesus! But there have been so many things that have happened throughout my life that was not in my mind at all as a child. A lot of ups and downs, but thankful that Jesus has been there with me through it all.

2025 is ending, and a new year is upon us. I have tried to be faithful in journalling all of my life, but there have been many times that life just got too busy to journal at all. If there was one thing I always made sure of, though, it was to journal at the beginning of every new year. Many of those journal entries in the past ended up being thankful that the year before was coming to a close because of the difficulties that we had gone through. This year of 2025, however, was one of the toughest that we have ever experienced as a family. If I had known what I was going to face at the beginning of the year, I would never have thought that I would have been able to get through it. But God has shown Himself faithful to us through all of the trials, pain and heartache.

This has been a different New Year's Eve, to say the least. It's the first one for us without Mom. It was a quiet evening, similar to how Christmas was for us this year. Dad dropped over to our house for a bit, and what he shared with me was so interesting. We realized that we are both in the book of Ezekiel in our own personal devotions (I'm in Ezekiel 11 and Dad in 12). Dad shared with me a word in that chapter that he said jumped out at him when he read it. It is a little lengthy, but I want to share it here with you all. It is found in Ezekiel 12:21-28:

"And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” ’But say to them,‘ “The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. For no more shall there be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,” says the Lord God.’ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” says the Lord God.’ ”

I believe that our world is longing for a vision from God to be fulfilled. For many people, it may seem like a vision or something that they are believing for is being prolonged. I know that it feels that way for me. Although I am so thankful for the many blessings from the Lord throughout my life, there are still so many dreams and visions that have not yet come to pass. Sometimes, in the natural, it feels like they never will. But this passage of scripture was very encouraging to me tonight. The proverb that was spoken in Israel that the days are prolonged and every vision fails, was refuted by the Lord saying that He was going to lay that proverb to rest. I know that the context of this passage of scripture is in reference to the judgement of Israel in their complacency, but the Lord’s admonishing that “the days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision”, and that “none of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” encouraged my heart tonight. It was a reminder to me to trust in the timing of the Lord and to believe the promises in His word.

This past year may not have gone the way that I wanted or expected it to…quite the opposite, actually. It was a busy, stressful, and painful year. Mom’s passing and my surgery was not something that I was expecting at all. But, I can look back on 2025 and still see so many God-moments in my life where He made Himself real to me. We had wonderful times with friends and family, met new lovely people this past year, saw the Lord working to touch people in ways that only He could, enjoyed powerful times in the presence of the Lord. And the most notable of the positive moments is when I felt the Lord covering me, holding me, and healing me through the most devastatingly difficult journey of losing my mother.

I started this journal entry in 2025, and I am now finishing it in the wee hours of 2026. I am not sure what this new year will bring to our lives. There may be ups…there may be downs. There may be joy…there may be pain. I am not going to put an expectation on this new year. But I am going to put an expectation on my Lord. I claim the scripture that His words will not be postponed any more. I am standing on His promises that He will give me the desires of my heart and that I will see visions and dreams fulfilled. He is our loving Saviour who desires the best for us.

You may be in a desperate place right now. You may be scared of what may be ahead in 2026. But, place your hand in the hand of the Master as you walk into this new journey ahead. He will be your shield and protection this year. Lay your dreams and visions at His feet. I pray that you will begin to see what you have longed to see in your life. Claim the promises in His Word. And trust in the timing of the Lord.