神「各按其時」供應所需
2025年9月15日By Chris Simpson
神「各按其時」供應所需
GOD PROVIDES FOR NEEDS ‘IN ITS SEASON’
我們在聖經中讀到，神應許祂的子民，如果他們遵行神的道，神就會給他們「降下時雨」，並且土地出產、樹木結果(利未記26章3-4節)。但這不是立刻的獎勵，也不是有要求即供應的結果，而是在神的神聖智慧之下，在神所指定，恰當的時刻所賜予的祝福。這個真理在今日的商業世界中，依然適用。
神的作為不受限於我們的時間表或期望。祂的行動從不遲延、從不倉促、從不失準。神的每一步都與祂的旨意完美和諧，在永恆的視野中完全恰當。而這對於我們來說，是極其不適應的。我們經常被訓練要用截止日期和交付成果，來衡量價值。我們看重速度，鼓勵早日達標。但是神並沒有被我們的緊迫感所束縛。祂的應許不是一場交易，而是立約的應許。神的時間不是機械式的僵硬，而是精準無比。祂的作為也絕非隨意無章，而是適切得宜。
這是對每位領導者信心的考驗：我們是否願意放下自己的野心，甚至是我們的期望呢？我們在領導與生命中大部分的挫折，並非來自於失敗，而是來自於不合時宜的欲望。我們要求結果必須按照我們的時間表來實現，並且將其稱之為「願景」。但是如果等待並非懲罰呢？如果這是一種預備呢？
這就是為什麼忍耐是聖靈的果子之一(加拉太書5章22節)。這不是消極的心態，而是聖靈所賦予能力的堅毅。神賜給我們忍耐，因為祂知曉我們所看不見的－果實結成之前，必須先有形塑；收穫來臨之前，根基必須扎深。等待不是軟弱，而是即便在內心渴望行動時，仍然有能力選擇信靠的堅強。正如以賽亞書40章31節所應許的：「但那等候耶和華的必重新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。」
丹尼爾‧陳(Daniel Tan)是馬來西亞的基督徒農業工程師，他花費數年時間，研發低成本的灌溉工具，希望能幫助鄉村地區的農民。他深信這是來自於神，是能恢復農民尊嚴，並且為福音見證敞開大門的創新發明。然而，在接下來的五年裡，一切都停滯不前。政府延遲、資金短缺，他的禱告也毫無回音。然後，就在第六年，有個非政府組織發現了丹尼爾發明的原型機（prototype）。短短幾個月內，這個工具就被應用到整個東南亞，同時結合了，關於管家職分與盼望概念的聖經培訓。他後來才體悟到：這段延遲並非被拒絕，而是一種形塑。神不只是在預備這個產品，祂更是在預備這個人。
這就是神行事的方式。總是精準無比，總是目的明確。「及至時候滿足，神就差遣他的兒子……」(加拉太書4章4節)。耶穌降臨得不早也不晚，祂在道路、語言和人心都已經準備好，可以接受那能轉變生命的救贖信息，並在精確的時刻到來。不早一秒，也不晚一秒。神總是在最恰當的時機行動，祂的時間安排毫無瑕疵。
所以，這是每位職場基督徒都必須面對的問題：你的信心能否配合神的時間呢？你的禱告是否能從「主啊，現在就賜福給我」，轉變為「主啊，請形塑我的生命、我的工作和我的家庭，直到你所預備的祝福，對我來說是真正恰當的」呢？你是否願意不僅僅交出你的成果，也交出你的時間表呢？雨水終將降下，土地必有出產。但是，只會各按其時。
@2025 Christopher C. Simpson致力於在全球職場上，培養勇敢且得勝的基督信仰，這份熱忱源於他對福音轉化力量的深刻信念。在擔任國際CBMC總幹事之前，Chris在公務部門貢獻了長達二十八年的卓越職業生涯－曾經擔任美國海軍陸戰隊的指揮官；在美國特勤局服役，負責保護七位美國總統，並且在複雜而高危的國際任務中領導精銳團隊。Chris與他的妻子Ana（尼加拉瓜裔）居住在佛羅里達州博卡拉頓。
反省與問題討論
第一、在你的生命或領導經歷中，是否曾有過一段延遲，結果證明這正是你所需要的，並結果甚至比你最初所期望的更加豐碩呢？
第二、加拉太書5章22節，將忍耐列為聖靈的果子之一。你覺得為什麼忍耐對於屬靈成熟 至關重要，尤其是在職場上呢？
第三、丹尼爾‧陳的故事提醒了我們，神有時候會先形塑人，然後才啟動使命。神目前可能正在以哪些方式形塑你，來為祂尚未顯明的事做預備呢？
第四、以賽亞書40章31節說：「但那等候耶和華的必重新得力。」對你而言，不僅僅是交出結果，也交出你的時間表，會是什麼樣子呢？
挑戰思考
本週或許是你檢視自己忍耐程度的良好時機，特別是對於「你是否願意並且能夠等候神的時間」這件事。你目前是否正在等待某個或某些特定的禱告，得到回應呢？你認為神可能正在如何利用這段時間，來預備你並且將你形塑為祂所期望的樣貌呢？請和好朋友、導師、分會會員，或是值得信賴的顧問分享你的需要，尋求他們的智慧、建議，以及他們的代禱，使你在等候神「各按其時」回應禱告的過程中，能夠保持信心。
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考以下的經文 :
利未記26章3-4節
26:3 你們若遵行我的律例，謹守我的誡命，
26:4 我就給你們降下時雨，叫地生出土產，田野的樹木結果子。
詩篇27篇14節
27:14要等候耶和華！當壯膽，堅固你的心！我再說，要等候耶和華！
傳道書3章1節
3:1 凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。
以賽亞書40章31節
40:31 但那等候耶和華的必重新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。
加拉太書4章4節
4:4 及至時候滿足，神就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下，
加拉太書5章22節
5:22 聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、
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GOD PROVIDES FOR NEEDS ‘IN ITS SEASON’
MONDAY MANNASep 15, 2025
GOD PROVIDES FOR NEEDS ‘IN ITS SEASON’
By Chris Simpson
In the Scriptures we read that God promised His people if they walked in His ways, He would give them “rain in its season” – and with it, the fruitfulness of the land (Leviticus 26:3-4). Not instant reward. Not on-demand outcomes. But blessing, in its appointed time, according to what was fitting, according to His divine wisdom. This truth still governs the marketplace today.
God does not operate according to our calendars or expectations. His actions are never delayed, never rushed, never misaligned. He moves in absolute harmony with His will, according to what is fitting in the scope of eternity. And that is deeply uncomfortable for us. We are trained to measure value by deadlines and deliverables. We prize speed. We reward early achievement. But God is not bound by our urgency. His promises are not transactions; they are covenantal promises. His timing is not mechanical; it is precise. And His movements are not arbitrary; they are appropriate.
This is the test of faith for every leader: Are we willing to yield not only our ambitions but also our expectations? Much of our frustration in leadership and life does not stem from failure; it stems from mistimed desire. We demand results on our schedule and call it “vision.” But what if the waiting is not punishment? What if it is preparation?
That is why patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is not a passive disposition. It is Holy Spirit-empowered endurance. God gives patience because He knows what we cannot see – how formation must precede fruit. How roots must deepen before harvest arrives. Waiting is not weakness. It is the strength to trust when everything in you wants to act. As Isaiah 40:31 promises: "They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Daniel Tan, a Christian agricultural engineer in Malaysia, spent years developing a low-cost irrigation tool to serve rural farmers. He believed it was from the Lord, an innovation to restore dignity and open doors for Gospel witness. But for five years there was nothing. Government delays. Lost funding. Silence in response to his prayers. Then, in year six, a non-government organization discovered Daniel’s prototype. Within months, the tool was in use across Southeast Asia, paired with biblical training on stewardship and the concept of hope. He later realized: The delay was not rejection, it was formation. God was not just preparing the product. He was preparing the man.
This is how God works. Always with precision. Always with purpose. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son (Galatians 4:4). Jesus did not appear early or late. He came at the exact moment when roads, language, and hearts were ready for redemption through the life-transforming message. Not a second too soon. Not a second too late. God moves when it is fitting. His timing is flawless.
So, here is the question that confronts every marketplace disciple: Can your faith accommodate God's timing? Can your prayers shift from “Lord, bless me now” to “Lord, shape my life, my work, and my family until the blessing You’ve prepared is truly fitting for me”? Are you willing to surrender not just your outcomes, but your calendar? The rain will come. The land will yield. But only in its season.
© 2025. Christopher C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, a native of Nicaragua, and their three children, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. Can you think of a time in your life or leadership when a delay turned out to be exactly what was needed – and even more fruitful than what you had originally hoped for?
2. Galatians 5:22 lists patience as a fruit of the Spirit. Why do you think patience is essential for spiritual maturity – especially in the marketplace?
3. Daniel Tan’s story serves to remind us of how God sometimes forms the person before releasing the mission. In what ways might God be shaping you right now for something He has not yet revealed?
4. Isaiah 40:31 says, “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” What would it look like for you to surrender not just your outcomes, but your calendar?
Challenge for This Week
This week might be a good time for you to consider how you are in terms of patience, especially when it comes to being willing and able to wait upon God’s timing. Are you currently waiting to have a specific prayer – or prayers – answered? How do you think He might be using this time to prepare you and shape you into the person He wants you to be?
Share your need with a good friend, mentor, small group or some trusted advisors, asking for their wisdom and counsel – and for their prayers that you can remain faithful as you wait for God to answer your prayers “in its season.”
NOTE:
If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Leviticus 26:3-4; Psalm 27:14; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Isaiah 40:31; Galatians 4:4, 5:22
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