All in His Timing: Reflections and a Review

Last year my husband and I made a difficult decision.  We have been trying to conceive a child for about six months.  We finally felt ready to expand our family, and it just wasn't happening.  We were both stressed about so many things, and as we took a look at the state of our lives, we realized a truth we weren't ready to face.


It just wasn't the right time.

It was hard in particular for me to accept.  I had wanted a baby for so long.  Suddenly I found myself worried.  Were we having problems conceiving because something was wrong with me?  Would we ever be able to have the child we longed for?

A few months later, I interviewed for a new job in a new city.  I got it, and about a month after that, my husband got a job in the same city.  In less than two months time, our lives totally changed.  We relocated, we started new jobs, and in a lot of ways, a new life.

It was in those moments that the words of Proverbs 16:9 became more real to me than ever before:  A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.  

It had been our plan to get pregnant then, but God had other things in mind.  If I had been pregnant at that time, I probably wouldn't have applied for the new job that I love.  My husband wouldn't have been looking for jobs in a different city.  We wouldn't have moved to a new area that we love.  None of this was in our plan, but God knew better.

Early this year, we started talking about having a baby again.  We prayed, and we knew that it was the right time.  But this time, we gave it to God.  We told ourselves that when it was the right time, it would happen, and we wouldn't stress about it like we had the first time we tried.

In the third week of February, I discovered I was pregnant.

All throughout this pregnancy, I have been reminded of God's faithfulness.  I've learned that He can take our plans...our narrow-minded view of what we want for our own lives, and he can create something beautiful out of it.  He can take the pain of the wait, the agonizing over what the future holds, and He can create a life, a purpose, a path that you never could have imagined.

So when I received two items from the Dayspring Redeemed Outdoor Collection to review this month, I was so excited to share them with you. 

They sent me the Everything Beautiful Metal Yard Sign.  It features the well-known Bible verse, "Everything Beautiful Begins with God."  I've more than experienced this very message in the last year.  When we take our plans, our failures, the ashes of our lives to God, He creates something beautiful.  This beautiful outdoor sign is a reminder of our faith, but it's also a bold proclamation to all who pass by your yard.

They also sent the Fullness of Joy Message Board.  The verse featured on this versatile piece is "In Your Presence is Fullness of Joy."  When we seek God, when we seek His will, we find joy and peace.  We learn to accept the things we cannot change.  We learn that there is a time and place for everything, and in time, we accept it.  While this board can certainly be used an outdoor message board, I'm more inclined to use it in my kitchen, where I think it will serve to remind me of important things we have coming up?

How has God's timing influenced your life?

These items were provided by Daypsring.  I received no monetary compensation in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed here are my own.  Images courtesy of Dayspring.