A Divine Hurry


Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:31 ESV

We hear a lot of messages urging us to take things slowly, think them through and to wait on the Lord. “Wait on the Lord and He will renew your strength” People say, “Calm down. – Take it easy. – Just rest a while.” But I suggest that the waiting that the Lord has in mind is not a lackadaisical, let’s take it slow, attitude towards life. If we read on in that verse from Isaiah, the very first action it tells us to take is that we should, “Run and not be weary!” That got me to check out how Jesus “waited on the Lord” in His life and ministry.

Here are just a few examples:

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” 
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:3

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
Matthew 14:3

 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.
Mark 1:21

 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, 
immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” Mark 5:30

Though we comfort ourselves with the thought that God the Father is never in a hurry, it is amazing to see that Jesus often was. He knew His time on earth was brief. Every second, each word and individual miracle performed, and healing given was done in what appears to be a divine hurry.

Photo by Nita on Pexels.com

But Divine hurry is not Divine panic. Jesus never worried that He might miss out on an opportunity. Rather the immediacy or even abruptness of Jesus actions (remember the overturning of the money changers tables) is more like the hurrying of the wind as it drives a ship across the water or the strike of a lightning bolt. God’s hurry is determined, steadfast and targeted. When we allow the divine hurry into our hearts it will motivate us to go rush to the side a friend at a car accident, grab our wife’s hand and pray for God to ease her pain after surgery or give generously without a second thought to a couple whose house has burned down. While fear motivates panic, a Divine hurry springs from an even greater force – the urgency and power of the love of Jesus. That love prayed in the garden, till His sweat fell like drops of blood. The love of Christ tossed aside caution and forbid Peter from using a sword in His defense. That same divine hurry must also be allowed to blow through our souls, like the mighty rushing wind of the day of Pentecost. When God arises, His enemies are scattered, sins are pardoned, shadows flee. away and we pray, “Come quickly Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20 KJV

6 thoughts on “A Divine Hurry

  1. Powerful, Pete! Truly powerful. I also like “divine hurry is not divine panic.” May the Lord grant us wisdom to know when we should wait on the Lord, and when we should apply God’s hurry! Thanks for these great reminders, my friend!

  2. I agree with the previous comments. This is a powerful post and your statement, “But Divine hurry is not Divine panic” is a big takeaway. God’s time is the right time. I just need to be primed to listen and respond.

    • I wrote this for myself as much as anyone. I am a footdragger if left to my own devices and sometimes God uses a divine cattle prod to get me into action. Thanks for your comments, Beth.

  3. Pingback: A Divine Hurry — praise2worshipdotnet – QuietMomentsWithGod

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