Trust the Slow Work of God
By Dr. Jack R. Hodges, Jr.
Burke County
Following my article from last month which began to follow Paul’s Mediterranean Sea journey to Rome, this article is a followup to last month’s. After Paul had completed two successful missionary journeys, Luke gives an account in Acts 21-28 (and specifically in Chapters 27-28) of Paul’s trials and faith on display during his final journey to Rome. This story is a compelling story of faith amid adversity. It is the story of Paul’s Mediterranean Sea journey to Rome. He was sent as a prisoner of Rome from Caesarea in Israel to Rome to stand trial before the higher courts of Rome. Though a Jew, Paul was a Roman citizen and he had the right and privilege, as a Roman citizen during a provincial trial, to “appeal to Caesar.” Festus, the Roman procurator at Caesarea, granted that appeal and sent him under guard by an Augustan cohort named Julius to be delivered to Rome. They were placed aboard an Adramyttian ship and set sail for the regions along the coast of Asia. During this difficult voyage, Paul would continue to find God’s promises, guidance, and provisions along each step of the Journey. That is, indeed, what the Lord desires for us to glean from these important set of lessons or Med Sea Rules. Today, consider a second Med Sea rule: Trust the slow work of God.
The great New England preacher, Phillips Brooks, was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion. “What’s the trouble, Mr. Brooks?” he asked. “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!”
History bears out the fact that some of the greatest missionaries of all time devotedly spread the seed of God’s Word and yet had to wait long periods before seeing the fruit of their efforts. William Carey, for example, labored 7 years before the first Hindu convert was brought to Christ in Burma. Adoniram Judson toiled 7 years before his faithful preaching was rewarded. In Western Africa, it was 14 years before one convert was received into the Christian church. In New Zealand, it took 9 years; and in Tahiti, it was 16 years before the first harvest of souls began.
James, the half-brother of Jesus who did not accept the claims of Jesus until He appeared to him after the resurrection and who joined others in waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, would write in James 1:2-6, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”
As Paul embarked on this “next” part of his “God journey”—a difficult journey that would take him on a long voyage to face the imperial power of Rome, He did so with courage and faith. He did so, knowing that the Lord would guide him and protect him. He did so, realizing that he still had much to learn from God and about God and His goodness. Paul didn’t have any idea how long nor what would or could happen along the way. But the one thing that he knew was that his Savior and Lord would walk along with him. And because the Lord was with him, he could trust the slow work of the Lord in his life.
Paul trusted the slow work of God because:
- God knows what He is doing! God had a plan and a purpose when He placed Paul on that cargo ship. Packed into the ship, Paul and the other prisoners set sail, traveling northward up the coast of Israel. Their first port was Sidon. Paul had friends in Sidon and the Roman cohort, Julius, under whose care he had been entrusted, allowed Paul to disembark and visit his friends for comfort and care. There were some brothers and sisters in Sidon who needed a visit from Paul much more than he needed their care. Don’t miss this! God interrupted the voyage to attend to specific needs. Don’t you think God knows what He is doing when He interrupts your day and gives you a specific and intentional opportunity to pause, stop what you are doing, and attend to what God needs? Paul could have said, “I’ll just stay on the boat. I have an appointment and I don’t want to be late.” But that’s not what he did! And what Paul did is exactly what the Lord Jesus expects that His disciples are going to do. What is that? Trust that God knows what He is doing when trials and temptations come; when interruptions occur; and when God shows you need and opportunities. Here is what you do—get off the boat! Get out of your house and off your pew and get going toward God’s specific sending.
- He cares for you!—The Lord knows what’s ahead! And He always prepares for whatever obstacles are in the way. He desires that, like Paul, every one of His children of faith (disciples) will trust His divine plans and Sovereign power to accomplish those plans. He cares for you! As Paul boarded the ship again (v. 4), the ship “sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary.” The Lord knows your every need. He knows your struggles and temptations. He knows your heart, mind, and soul. And He is working to bring you under the shelter of His wings. The Psalmist wrote often about taking refuge in the shelter of God’s wings (as in Ps. 61:4). He is, of course, referring to the strong arms and strong hands of Almighty God—who has all things under His Sovereign reign and care. His dominion is everlasting and even the storms of life are at His command. Storms are going to come! Will you trust in His care—for He cares for you, as Peter wrote “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
- He knows the destination!—When the ship weathered the storm, it continued to sail on, reaching the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, and landed at the city of Myra in Lycia. From there, they boarded an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy. They continued on their journey with the destination in mind. Our God has an eternal destination in mind for you! Despite the storms, or despite the obstacles, and contrary to the lies of Satan and evil and fallen mankind, our faithful, good, God has a wonderful and fool-proof plan to deliver you and me into His eternal presence. His name is Jesus!
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Dr. Jack Hodges is the Senior Pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton, NC. He has served as a pastor, a biblical counselor, and an International Mission Board missionary.
Read more from Dr. Hodges here.
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