Yesterday our Father gathered His family together, and He said, “the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” These Words were originally given to our ancestor Habakkuk regarding God’s promise to send an evil, bitter, and hasty nation (the Chaldeans) to Israel in order that the Israelites might be reproved & saved from their shameful addiction to, and abusive relationship with, themselves. The promised day of the Chaldean invasion would feel something like the appointed time of a dreaded, but life-saving, surgery. The surgery will most definitely be agonizing; and the recovery & rehab will most likely hurt even more …but the net effect of this painful procedure and rigorous rehab process is (by God’s paradoxical design) HEALTH, Life, & Life to the Fullest! [John Newton apparently knew something about this, and subsequently he wrote a hymn/poem entitled, “I Asked The Lord” …you ought to check it out].

Just like in every other relationship – our relationship with God is healthy proportionate to humility (see Philippians 2:1-11). There are many moments in life (even the moments when the forecast reveals unavoidable pain) when we react and operate with a profound amount of proud impatience, and we resolve to cease control (even if it’s only a semblance or an illusion of control). Spiritually speaking – it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that we often attempt to perform surgery (and inflict pain) on ourselves as opposed to WAITING on the Infinitely Expert Physician (Yahweh Himself!). Though we exacerbate our injuries and completely botch the surgery, we frequently opt NOT TO WAIT on God; and we disdain His perfect timing (i.e. self-sabotage).

PONDER these Active & Living, Inerrant, & Inspired Words from Proverbs 3:3-8

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
		bind them around your neck;
		write them on the tablet of your heart.
	So you will find favor and good success
		in the sight of God and man.
	
	
	Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
		and do not lean on your own understanding.
	In all your ways acknowledge him,
		and he will make straight your paths.
	Be not wise in your own eyes;
		fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
	It will be healing to your flesh
		and refreshment to your bones.

:::

But what does any of this have to do with CAKE?

Carl was 12 years old. He was afraid of the procedure, but his grandma had put her foot down. He couldn’t put up much of a fight when it came to the will of this grandmother – she was a stubborn lady. All the fair designs he had schemed to avoid the surgery were crossed and rendered null and void by his grandma – she seemed absolutely intent on aggravating his woe. But even now he couldn’t deny the fact that she loved him. There was nothing about her current choices regarding his life that made sense to him, but still he had this nagging suspicion that she was doing all of it for his own good. Plus, at the very least, she had promised him one of her World Famous Cakes when he came home from the hospital!

He didn’t remember much of anything about the procedure when he arrived home. We was certainly anxious leading up to the surgery, and he was in some pain post-op, but that had been subdued and mitigated by drugs. Honestly, all he really had on his mind now was THE CAKE. Upon arriving home Carl was disappointed to discover that the cake was not yet ready, but rather it was in the process of being made ready, and his grandmother kept telling him that it would be delicious and ready for consumption ‘all in due time.’ This put Carl in the very upsetting position of a 12 year old being told to WAIT. Carl’s soul was flooded with indignation. …For all of you who are “basically good“, you will most likely not be able to understand the feelings that dominated and defined the next moments of Carl’s life. He found himself furious and full of vexation as he was confronted by the inescapable fact of his own finitude. He further frustrated himself with thoughts of pulling-rank on his grandmother, and challenging her 70+ years of cake-making experience & expertise. Perhaps, he thought, this whole readiness business is relative …perhaps he himself could take matters into his own hands and redefine the terms of when a cake is actually ready! After approx. 6 seconds Carl had absolutely convinced himself that he was the real expert, and he decided it would be foolish of him not to lean on his own understanding. While his grandmother was taking a phone call in the other room, Carl tip-toed into the kitchen and saw a large vessel of the primary substance with which cake is made. According to Carl’s calculations, getting hold of this substance (a product he had heard his grandmother refer to as “flour”) and gorging himself with as much of it as he could fit into his body – this would certainly satisfy his insatiable craving for cake! It was fool-proof Carl thought! And just as Carl was about to crown himself A Genius in the theater of his own arrogant mind, he began feeling the effects of his injudicious decision.