“But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights” (Galatians 4:4-5, NET).

One of my fellow’s was busy and did not have time for a bone marrow aspiration today. I offered to do it for him. The patient was weak from a stroke on one side and was very difficult to position. So instead of using the posterior iliac crest, I decided for a sternal aspirate. It was difficult to get his shirt off, so I just lowered the collar. After marking the spot, I numbed the area and was about to insert the needle when the nurse asked if we had a signed consent. The fellow had failed to do so. We took a break and completed the official consent. After that, I decided I should pull his shirt up regardless the difficulty. When I did so, I discovered my initial site for the aspirate was far lateral to the appropriate site and might have caused bleeding from a subcostal artery. I corrected my location and performed the procedure successfully.

Shortcuts.

In healthcare, shortcuts almost always get us into trouble, like my initial decision for easier but inadequate exposure for this procedure.

It’s very clear God did not take any shortcuts when He worked to redeem the world. From Abraham through Moses, through David, to Jesus: centuries passed as God continued to draw His children toward Himself. When “the appropriate time had come” for the Creator of all time, Jesus laid Himself on the cross, died and rose again, completing the work God had begun at creation.

God could have just raised His hand and accomplished His redeeming work in seconds, but He waited for the right time. He could have done it on a more reasonable schedule, but reasonable is my idea. By knowing God, watching Him work in my life, and discerning His character in the Bible, I am fully confident His timing was perfect. I am grateful He took no shortcuts in His plan to bring His children home.

And likewise, in the desperate issues of my life, where I am begging God to hurry, if He chose to wait for Easter, I can trust His timing now.

Dear Father,

Thank you for your patient and painful sacrifice that has brought me home to you.

Amen