2 Chronicles Chapter 34: Verse 3 (NIV)
In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols.
Josiah was sixteen years old when he began to seek God. It would be four years later before he began to clear the land from its idol worship and another ten before the Temple was cleared and the Book of the Law read to Josiah. By then he would be old enough and mature in following God to understand what was being read, and the consequences of Israel and Judah’s behaviour. He would also be able to appreciate the significance of celebrating the Passover.
God was not in a hurry. He took time to train Josiah and prepare him for all He had planned. As a young man, he must have had support and encouragement, and God made sure it was the right sort of encouragement and advice.
We need to encourage our young people as they seek to follow God in today’s secular society. But we also need to remember whether it’s people who are young in age, or young in the faith, no matter how old they are, we must be wise and discerning with our support. God may indeed have put a calling on their lives. But His timing is perfect, so we must be careful not to interfere with that timing. There may be a period of training and waiting, or God may move them very quickly into the place of their appointing. God knows each of us better than we know ourselves, and certainly knows even our nearest and dearest better than we do. Let’s make sure we are supportive in the way the Holy Spirit directs us to be, and rejoice when we see God moving through the person we are encouraging. Its also a lesson for us to remember to be patient when God is working in our own lives. Sometimes there’s a lot of planning and preparation for us to go through too, and we have to be obedient and patient if God seems to be taking His time. He knows exactly what He’s doing!
Dear Lord,
Thank You that You know what we are able to handle and when. Help me wait when You say wait, but be ready to move as soon as You say. Thank You for reminding me that Your timing is always perfect. Amen.