Waiting is, for me, one of the most difficult disciplines of life. Yet true faith is able to wait for the fulfillment of God’s purposes in God’s time. But, while we are waiting, we must also be obeying. – Warren W. Wiersbe

“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and [then] comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

John 4:35, NKJV

Divinely ordered encounters are often framed by boring days and long waits. Several years ago, I remember grumbling to God about having to get my truck fixed, and as I sat waiting in the waiting room another young man came in. Through the course of conversation, he opened up about his life and it became apparent to me that God had placed me there in the waiting room to help this young man place his faith in Christ.

A similar thing happened when our truck (a different vehicle) broke down at the beach. I waited on a tow and had to wait for the long ride home. But as I got to talking with the driver, I realized that perhaps the very reason my truck broke down was to sit next to this man and share the hope I had in Jesus Christ! The moments that I thought were inconveniences were actually divine appointments!

In this passage, Jesus is simply waiting by the well and He steps into a divine encounter with this woman. In a sense this wasn’t planned, but also in a sense it was divinely orchestrated. Jesus can share the gospel with this entire Samaritan village because he waited by the well and then had a conversation with one woman.

I can’t imagine that for all of our skill and organization, we could have developed a better plan to reach the whole community. All that was really needed for Jesus to reach this town was to reach this woman. He redeemed the time that he had alone while the disciples were out getting lunch.

I marvel at how much God is already at work in people’s lives when I come along as a pastor. I often get to be there when God does something cool, but the amazing thing is that God is already at work. I just happened to be there at the right time waiting on his work.

As I read this encounter again today, my prayer was that I would redeem the time I spent waiting today, not by playing games on my phone or checking out social media, but by focusing on the Lord and the people he has placed around me.

Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for this encounter that reminded me that you are already at work in the world around me. You often put me in the paths of others intentionally. I pray that I am a good steward of the time you have given me to wait, may it be time well spent and that brings glory and honor to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.