Blank Spaces

​There are times when you and I cannot understand why we cannot do what we want to do.
If you are at all like me, I would prefer to know ahead of time everything that was going to happen, why it was going to happen, how it was going to happen and when it was going to happen.
The last time I checked life does not work that way. Life is full of blank spaces.
Blank spaces are gaps. They stare us down, driving us a bit crazy when we struggle on our own to fill them in. Blank spaces can cause us to bite our fingernails, pull our hair out, make impulsive decisions, kick the cat and do stupid things we may regret.  
Blank spaces like who am I going to marry? What job or career should I choose? College education…yes or no? Where is my new church home? Desires and plans to become a family. Doctor’s report when ill. When and how should I retire? Win the lottery (more like wishful thinking!).
In Matthew 24 Jesus teaches on the topics of signs of Christ’s return, perilous times, the glorious return, the parable of the fig tree and be ready for His coming. If you have not read this chapter lately, do so and see how our times line up with many of the things Jesus said.
In verses 35-36 the Lord declared “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but the Father alone.”
Big picture. All of us who believe in and love the Lord want to know when prophecy is fulfilled resulting in the second coming of Jesus and the establishment of a new heaven and new earth. I heard some amens! Guess what? FATHER GOD WILL FILL IN THAT BLANK!
I would like to help Him out. My blank space fill-in would be how about now Father? Send Jesus back! I am ready. I want to see my Lord and Savior face to face. Another round of amens! Truth is His glorious return is not my call. Jesus is waiting at the right hand of the Father to receive the signal to go get my kids Son!  
Common Factors Of Blank Spaces

1. Blank spaces test our faith and try our patience. Another round of amens!  
2. You and I want to fill them in. Who likes blanks anyway?  They taunt us to solve them. Blank spaces could be, maybe should be, but are not always our friends.  
3. There is usually a waiting season for blanks to be filled in. Short or long waiting can be frustrating to guys like me.  
4. You and I need to learn the discipline to wait for God to fill in the blanks. Maybe, just maybe, God can do a better job in filling blank spaces than you or me. Just a thought worth thinking about! Can I hear another Amen?
5. Never run before God’s guidance.  A good rule of thumb: if there is doubt, don’t! Wait. Look to the Lord to fill in the blanks. Then move forward confidently by faith to do His will.
6. Blank spaces become next steps when you and I trust the Lord for them. “The steps of the good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in the way he takes.” Psalm 37:23. God is happy when we follow His steps for us. We will be happy too!

 Oswald Chambers wrote “There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in but wait. Never run before God’s guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt--don’t.”
A blank space, a gap in God’s will can be a good thing. God knows what He is doing. He alone knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning.  God’s gaps are good gaps. They force you and me to seek and trust Him.
Staring at? Struggling with a blank space right now? Why not release it to God and let Him fill it in? Take the pressure off yourself. He can and will handle the gap better than you.  
Application: Here are some current blank spaces in my life.
1._______________________________
2._______________________________
3._______________________________
4. ______________________________
Blank spaces become filled spaces when we look to the Lord to fill them.
I trust you Lord for filling these blank spaces in Your way, Your time, for Your purpose, Your glory and my good. Through the power of the Holy Spirit fill me with faith and patience (lots of patience!) to wait and not worry about blank spaces.
“The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8
“The end of a mater is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8
A Word For The Week: Wait on God with patient faith to fill in the blanks.