Delays of Mercy

The work on the center building has been making slow progress recently. The roofing timber that has been ordered from Tanzania is costing more than expected and taking longer to arrive. Meanwhile, the much-needed rains are here, slowing down construction.

Here you can see how the walls are being built up between the pillars, while the roofing is being waited on.

It was a great blessing that the sewage hole has been completed! The masonry lining will prevent the heavy rains from eroding the sides, so all that is needed is the concrete cover now. Praise God!


Other inspection doesn't seem too heartening, though. Here the "ringto" is cracking, due to mistakes made by the mason. It will have to be rebuilt again.

At this corner you can see the joint is weak. Surely not strong enough to support the heavy roofing timbers! As we learn to trust the great Manager of our times and seasons, we see His hand of mercy in it all. "It is good that the timber is delayed," Lawrence acknowledges, "because if the roofing was done when this weakness was not noticed, the roof might have crumbled. It is a blessing."


Isn't this true of our lives? In mercy God sends adversity and set backs. While we might see these troubles as needless delays, they are often critical for our growth. That is, if we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal our need and restore us. I don't like having to "redo" things anymore than you. But isn't better to humble down and receive correction and alignment in our lives, than to ruthlessly pursue high attainments - only to have our building come crumbling down about us later?

"Therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy u0pon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18