Grocery shopping with a three year old toddler and a seven month old baby can get tricky. With a twenty-pound CJ strapped in a baby carrier on me, I push a fidgety TJ in cart, navigating the aisles and a banana-and-milk check list.

It’s always a race to the finish. So, when your child asks to buy some cupcakes, it’s important to talk him down slowly, rather than say just say no.

“Good idea!  Let’s get them next time.”   

This round, however, goes to TJ, because his request turned out to be a selfless act.

“But, Mommy…” TJ protests. “Daddy is sick! I think blueberry muffins will make him feel better!”

Back at home, I unload the groceries, baby chews on a bib and TJ sits at the table.  With a mouth full of muffin and a glass full of milk.

As I restock the fridge, shaking my head in humor, my preschool son restores my hope in the joys of parenting.

“Mommeee!” TJ calls out, after a gulp to wash down some cake. “These muffins are gooood… Why don’t we get these muffins to Daddy right now?!”

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” I holler back, keeping the volley of conversation in his court.

In a moment of genius, TJ gets inspired.

“I know!… Let’s put some muffins in the mailbox! Then, the postman can pick it up and put it in Daddy’s mailbox at work.  He can eat it at work and be happy right away!”

Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? Put a muffin in the box and have it delivered.  Piece of cake.

As far as my little buddy was concerned, he had it all figured out.

After all, he didn’t know that mail doesn’t get processed in an hour.  Last I checked, they haven’t invented Star Trek-like food replicators, that instantly synthesize pastries on demand.

Muffin In a Mailbox Thinking

Like my sweet boy, I can’t help but get excited that I have a direct line into God.  He can do anything in an instant.

And that’s where I trip up.

I’ll come up with an awesome idea or solution about my life.

You know, God.

… That dream that’s been put on pause and waiting for you to press “play”?

… That breakthrough I’ve been quietly praying about?

… How about that “thing” I’m trusting you with?

When prayers aren’t answered and the fog isn’t lifting, I think God is delayed.

Trouble is, how can I say God is late, if I don’t have the schedule?

I’m just like TJ, wanting to put my muffin into the “magic box” and have it go where I want.  When I want.

God Delivers Destiny On Schedule

I’ve got to quit trying to figure out God’s schedule and setting up my own.

Yeah, God’s schedule.

Like a horse being trained to turn circles, God brings me back to the same starting point for faith:

God knows where He needs to get me, and He will get me there.

Faith is designed to keep us holding onto God.  As such, there are some things that we just don’t know.

When our lives don’t appear to match up with our destiny, God tells us to relax into His sovereignty.

He’s got everything under His control.  His purpose will prevail.

Right on time.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.  Proverbs 19:21