You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:6-8

Have you ever heard of the “just in time” principle? It is a business term, referring to a practice of ordering stock or parts “just in time” to be used, so that the business doesn’t have to invest a lot of money in those parts, and in warehousing those parts, without seeing a return for a long time.

Just in time business is a way of reducing overheads, and keeping costs of production down so that the price of goods stays low, and profit can be made. And it makes perfect sense … until one part of the chain breaks down.

For example, I remember hearing some years ago that a car factory had to stop production because the staff of their paint supplier went on strike. The paint factory had to stop production for a few days, and as a result, after a couple of days the car factory ran out of paint and had to close also.

Hearing stories like this, and being raised to ‘be prepared’ as the old Girl Guide motto use to say, I am a planner. Since childhood, I always had plan A, plan B … plan Z. I remember lying in bed at night, planning what I would do if the other members of my family were all killed in a car accident at the same time; or if someone got hurt; or… you get the idea. I am not really a “just in time” sort of person. Being “just in time” is scary, because it means I am almost late. I *hate* being late. “Just in time” is stressful.

But over the years I have mellowed a bit. If I am driving in peak hour traffic, I always allow double travel time… and then some. But if there is an accident and it takes triple time, well I just shrug my shoulders, ask God to help me get there on time, ring and apologise as soon as I know I am going to be late, then switch on a CD or the radio, sit back and relax. It is out of my hands, and I did prepare – what is the point of stressing? I know I have done my best, God knows I have done my best, there is nothing that can be done.

But… if I know that I have stuffed up in some way… if I know I should have left earlier… if I have left the address at home, and got lost… then I find it hard to stay cool. I get angry at myself for not being diligent. I feel guilty and ashamed that I did not act responsibly. I ask God for help, but feel guilty asking, knowing I could have prevented the situation.

… just at the right time…

Do you know that God wants us to be in the “just in time” business? Only – there is no weak link in our supply chain

Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.

Matthew 6:31-34

Today I find myself appreciating once again God’s goodness and mercy in His timing, and the natural laws he instituted – in this case, sowing and reaping, giving and receiving, seeking first His kingdom and “these things” being added.

You see, due to my own stupidity and lack of diligence, I find myself with restricted finance for the time being.  Poor money choices, poor administration, and admittedly some contributing factors like becoming a single parent and losing 40% of the household’s income overnight, have meant that adjustments have had to be made. And as of the last few weeks, things were… well, I thought I might have to make some special arrangements to prevent bankruptcy.

Nevertheless, I have tried hard to maintain a practice of tithing, and of being generous, and of putting God’s work and supporting others before my own desires. And today it came full circle.

Last year, when I was in a better financial position, I gave some money to someone I love. I had forgotten exactly how much I had given – when I give money, it is never as a loan, it is a gift. If they repay, I am blessed, if they don’t, I don’t miss it. Today it was repaid.

So tomorrow morning, I should have enough money in the bank to pay my two most urgent bills. And the day after, enough to pay the rest, or pretty close to it.

Just at the right time… while I was still powerless to pay the debts created by my own sin… Christ paid again.

Today’s post started as a comment to my dear friend Paula over at her Sharing Spot. And then it grew way beyond a comment, so I decided instead to post it here instead (and she can just come over here and read it )

Something I have noted in the last little while – as we turn to Him more and more, and our confidence grows, there is a certain undercurrent of positivity that never leaves, no matter how great the hurt, or apparent the emptiness.

And I think I have worked out what that undercurrent is… Joy in the Lord.

There is no exuberance, no “happiness”, no “gladness” in my situation. But there is a certain resilience, a hope that is more sure than hope, a confidence that is not in things seen, but things unseen… a confidence that has built up over past experiences of turning to Him, and finding Him always there.

It is a strange sensation – I perceive it as a rod of steel through my bones. Which sounds peculiar, as a rod of steel feels cold and impersonal, not at all like you would anticipate joy to feel. And yet that is how I “see” it. I think it is the strength of such a rod of steel, straight and unbendable – it is this characteristic that I sense in my joy. Completely embedded. Supporting my frame. Unable to be removed, or distorted, because it is such a core part of me.

I am not without my doubts. Is this how true joy feels? I don’t know. I know that it doesn’t save me from pain. In fact, I seem to be most aware of it most when I am suffering my deepest pain. Neither does it save me from moments of doubt or indecision. All I know is that it is “good”. Perhaps over the coming days I will more clearly identify what it is, this sensation, this knowledge, this truth.