My Hour Has Not Yet Come

My first day of ministry here in Romania was spent in quarantine. I’m not gonna lie, I was frustrated. I was frustrated because my expectations were not met. We were told there were no restrictions and then we got to customs and were handed mandatory quarantine slips. I was frustrated because if I just had a picture of my positive test in the airport I could’ve avoided the quarantine. I was frustrated because it had been over a month since I really did ministry and I was ready to be back on the field. 

In my frustrated I asked myself THE question. The question everyone asks. The question that is found on posters and stickers and bracelets: WWJD What Would Jesus Do? If Jesus came to Romania, ready to start ministry but he was told to spend some time in quarantine first, how would he react? Then it hit me… He might not have had to be in quarantine, but he DID have to wait. 

Jesus, who is God, who was there at the beginning, who has literally been planning forever to come to earth to save the world got here and had to wait to begin his ministry. Not only did he have to wait, but he had to wait in the form of growing up. The God of the universe, the creator of all things, had to rely on his mother to keep him alive. God sent him to the world to save the world, but he didn’t come to us in the way you would expect God to come. He came to us as a mere infant. 

And in that time, he never complained. He didn’t grumble about wanting to get started on what he came to the world for. In fact, at one point he questions his mother for asking him to perform a miracle and tells her “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come?” (John 2:4). If I was Jesus, if I was the Messiah you bet I’d want everyone to know right away. I’d be eager to tell everyone and I wouldn’t have the patience to wait on God’s timing to reveal my identity or perform miracles. 

But Jesus isn’t like me. 

Jesus is patient. He trusts God’s timing and He trusts God’s plans. He trusted him enough to say yes to becoming an infant. He didn’t jump into ministry on his own timing. Instead, he sought his father. He spent time in his Father’s house learning and growing closer to him (Luke 2:49). This challenged my perspective on the quarantine. Now, a day later I was released from it because I gave proof of my recovery from covid. 12 of my teammates are still in quarantine and I admire their patience. While I’m thankful to be out of it, I’m also thankful for the day that led me to ask WWJD. 

This is now my prayer for myself: Lord, make me like Jesus. Give me patience to trust in your timing and your plans. Give me a heart that seeks after knowing you. Give me eyes to see the opportunities I have to draw closer to you and a stillness to grasp those opportunities. Amen 

Blessings, 

Kaci