As you likely know if you have been following my stories for any length of time, I am a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”. I rarely go more than a few months at a time without sharing some quote of his. Today, I’d like to share a brief conversation from “The Lord of the Rings” that has been on my mind lately. It is a short conversation between a hobbit named Frodo and a wizard named Gandalf.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” This scene has always deeply resonated with me, but I find it speaking to my heart even more than usual here lately. To say this has been an unusual year would be an understatement, my friend!
This year has been unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. I must confess that at times I have echoed the words of Frodo and wished this had not happened in my time. But when I do, I must also remember the words of Gandalf and I am reminded that what is important is what I do with the time that I have been given. I can’t change my circumstances, but I can choose what to do with the time God has given me. I still have a choice.
I may not have chosen to live in this moment in time. I may not have chosen to live through some of the things I have faced. But I have indeed been chosen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14b). God has me here in this place, at this moment in time for a reason, so I must ask myself an important question. What am I going to do with the time that has been given to me? What am I going to do with this time, this life that God has blessed me with?
One of my other favorite authors, C.S. Lewis had a great thought about how important our time is. “There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.” Our time is a very important gift from God, and it matters how we spend it. I could waste time lamenting over how difficult things are or I could determine to make the best of the time that has been given to me.
Every great testimony I have ever heard, has told the story of how God used someone in spite of the difficulties they faced. In fact, our God seems to specialize in taking what seems impossible and showing us what He can do through it. Some of my favorite Bible characters are the heroes of faith who were just ordinary people that were chosen and used by an extraordinary God. Come to think of it, the circumstances I face are the perfect place for God to work.
I can’t help but hope that all these tears I have cried and all these prayers I have prayed are fertilizing the ground and creating a place for my God to step in and work a miracle. I didn’t choose these hard times, but my God has chosen me to live through them, so I am determined to make the best of the time He has given me. I am determined to use the time that He has given me to honor and glorify Him. I am determined to use this time to magnify His name.
You see, at the end of my days, it won’t matter if you remember me; what will matter is if you know Him. I need to use my time here to do all I can to point others to Him. I can’t change the world, but He can. I can’t change hearts, but He can. I need to choose to use the time given me to do all I can to draw others to the One who has saved my soul and redeemed me from the dark pit that I was in. My friend, if you only knew how precious His love has been!
Yes, times are tough, but my Savior is tougher. No matter how dark the days, He has always brought me through, and I know that He will carry me through this as well. I must choose to look to Him and keep my eyes fixed on Him. I must choose to let His Spirit guide me as I decide what to do with the time that He has given me. He will help me to know the way; He will help me to glorify His name. And after all, isn’t that what we are supposed to do with the time we’ve been given?
… Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14
Making the best use of time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
Katrina Douglas
11/29/20
