A few years ago the idea of “Just in Time Delivery” was all the rage. It was all about reducing inventories and tightening the manufacturing and delivery process in order to minimize the time the product sat in warehouses or on the shelf in the store by taking up the slack between manufacture and delivery to the end user.

I’m continually amazed at how God continues to deliver just in time for me. I’d prefer He deliver in advance. But it seems He’s chosen, at least during this period of my life, to deliver just in time for me.

I have a running joke with a friend of mine who only seems to call when something bad happens. When there is some whif of pain in the air I can usually predict that within about two hours, Max will call and say “I was just thinking about you. What’s going on.” It’s gotten to be kind a funny. He called recently and all was well, but two hours later………

As I recently struggled with a personal difficulty, God sent encouragement through something my New Testament professor from seminary days, Dr. Wayne Stacey, wrote on his blog.

I was terribly upset by a bizarre encounter with a close, personal friend this week that had left me feeling shell-shocked. Along comes a blog post from Michael Hyatt about overlooking offenses.

Another, different, totally unrelated challenge arose, and this week—just in the nick of time—came a call from a friend that resolved the problem.

This is proving to me that sometimes, God is a “Just In Time” provider. Sometimes He delivers very deliberately, methodically, and well in advance. Sometimes He slides across the finish line at the last second. I am supposing that His decision regarding timing has something to do with what He is doing in my life to conform and shape me to His image. Sometimes, so that I can learn or develop in some way, He needs to help me at the last second. What is important is that He helps. When He helps, isn’t relevant.

I’ve always heard it said that God’s timing is perfect, and that God is never late. That didn’t mean much to me. I always found it platitudinous, like many things Christians say. But I think I am beginning to understand.

I wonder how often God has something in store for us at the 11th hour that He is prevented from delivering to us because we got discouraged, lost hope, gave up, and abandoned faith in the 10th hour? Maybe “You’ve must be present to win” and we leave too soon. As I reflect back on my life I shudder to think what God may someday show me that I missed out on because I quit too soon when my faith fizzled in the fire.

Don’t give up. Don’t lose faith. Keep praying, and working, and being faithful, and being dutiful. Intentionally seek out encouragement.  Consider the tension that builds as you move toward the last minute an escalating drum-roll crescendo leading up to when God is going to show Himself strong—just in time.