Frank W. Boreham, an English Baptist preacher was speaking of events during the Napoleonic Wars and the early part of the 19th century. He said, men were following with bated breath, the march of Napoleon and waiting with feverish impatience for the news of the wars and all the while in their own homes, babies were being born, but who could think about babies? Everybody was thinking about battles.
In one year between Trafalgar and Waterloo, there stole into the world a host of heroes. In 1809, Gladstone was born in Liverpool. Alfred Tennyson was born at the Somersby rectory. Oliver Wendell Holmes made his first appearance in Massachusetts. Abraham Lincoln drew his first breath at old Kentucky. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born at Durham. But nobody thought of babies. Everyone was thinking of battles. Yet which of the battles in 1809 mattered more than the babies of 1809? He goes on to say, we fancy that God can only manage his world by big battalions when all the while he is doing it by beautiful babies.
He says, when a wrong wants righting or work wants doing or truth wants preaching or a continent wants opening, God sends a baby into the world to do it. That is why long, long ago a baby was born in Bethlehem.
God's view and planning are long term. His timing is often not as quick as we would like. The things we often think are most important in the moment may end up being of little importance in the long run. We need to learn patience. Trust the Lord and His timing.
Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God"
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Source: Bonnie Cordon, Follow Him podcast
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