He has made everything beautiful in its time

Photo credit: www.itv.com

There is nothing quite as joyful as salvaging a draw from the jaws of defeat, or snatching victory right at the death. The raw emotion that gushes out from players, fans and coaching staff as they celebrate tells you all you need to know. Football has had its fair share of late drama, with fate unravelling in such a way that even the best directors in Hollywood would struggle to script it any better.

Re-living the late twists through YouTube makes for compelling viewing. The hairs at the back of my neck always stand up whenever I watch Sergio Aguero sink that late winner against QPR to win the premier league title for Manchester City.  Even as a Manutd fan, Martin’s Tyler commentary of “Aguuerrrrooooo!!!” and subsequently seeing the diminutive Argentine wheel away in delight, being mobbed by fellow Mancity players is one of those moments that takes your breath away.

Manutd, were forced to settle for second place despite winning at Sunderland. Only a few minutes earlier and for much of the second half they were champions; then a Dzeko header, followed by Aguero's late intervention meant the trophy went to Mancity at United’s expense. It was painful and you could see the disappointment on the faces of the United players like Rooney and Jones as they trudged off the pitch in the realization that they had just lost the league in spectacular fashion.

This is not to say that Manutd haven’t dished out the same punishment to other teams leave alone Mancity. Solskjaer’s outstretched leg, which put the ball in the back of the net to land United the European cup against Bayern Munich is yet another moment of unparalleled drama. Sammy Kuffour beating the ground in frustration spoke volumes of Bayern Munich's anguish. Then there was Michael Owen’s late toe-poke against Manchester City in that enthralling 4-3 win or what of Robin Van Persie’s free-kick against the same opponents for a 3-2 victory.

Many people have been celebrating Leicester’s shocking premier league win but to get there, they first had to endure untold heartbreak in the play-offs for promotion. Awarded a late penalty in their decisive 2^nd  leg semi-final play-off against Watford, they missed it, plus the follow-up, only for Watford to break away on a counter attack, and score through Troy Deeney to reach the finals of the play-off at Leicester’s expense. A few weeks ago at the Emirates, Danny Welbeck sent the stadium into ruptures along with millions of Arsenal fans across the globe, when he headed in an injury time winner to condemn Leicester to a 2-1 defeat. Perharps then it was poetic justice that Leicester won the premier league after those two late heartbreaks.

These are just a few of the many dramatic games, many have ended in similar fashion. As much as people may claim the earlier the better, a victory that comes in the 90^th minute or 92^nd is just as sweet if not sweeter than one that was all but assured by half-time. The celebrations of the fans, players removing their jerseys are testament to that. However long or late it took to get it, it’s a victory nonetheless, a beautiful one, that is celebrated with much jubilation.

I often see life as a football game, goals being likened to goals or dreams I desire to achieve. When I hit a stalemate and don’t achieve them by my timeline, worry starts to creep in. When I see others all around me scoring their goals, making their dreams come true, it spells defeat for me. Things start to get desperate as it appears I'm running out of time to score those goals.

When will I get a job? When will I move out? It should have happened by now, my 10 year plan is in no way going according to plan! Another young couple post pictures of their engagement on Facebook , I like their pics, congratulate them,  then inadvertently bring my failings into sharp focus. When will I find my significant other? Will I find my significant other? Maybe I already did and let them go? Did I do enough to try have a relationship? The barrage of questions sends me into panic mode. Worry and anxiety sets in as my life is locked in a drab stalemate whereas friends and family seem to be hitting their goals with ease.

As a child of God, you turn to scripture, Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him  and he will make your paths straight.” Your remember Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD. plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The verses encourage but slowly fade away from memory the longer you fail to hit your targets. It gets harder when try as you might, you cannot score your goal. It’s as if life has parked the bus like Chelsea, Atléltico Madrid and Leicester City combined. You just can’t score.

You get that delay is not denial, but it seems hard to believe it. The clock ticks away to the 90 with no change in fortunes. Denial seems the more likely option. Then I stumbled upon a nugget of wisdom in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

It’s not only beautiful for a team that wins at the last minute but for you as well. God makes the graduation beautiful even if it comes 2 years after your class graduated. God makes the wedding beautiful for those marrying in their later thirties or forties or even fifties. He makes the thriving business beautiful after it had failed on numerous attempts. He makes the baby beautiful after that long  period of childlessness with the false dawns of miscarriages.

You may be forced to wait, endure agony and moments of despair but when God’s timing comes into play, the bitterness, all the waiting is forgotten and the beauty of the goal scored is celebrated.

Did David whine to God that he should have been king earlier? Did Abraham blast God for not giving him Isaac sooner? Did Joseph miss out on a high position or a wife because he was wasting away in Prison missing out on invaluable job experience?

The answer is no. God made David king the time he did, and despite having to wait for long to ascend to the throne, the waiting didn’t reduce David’s capacity to lead. Matter of fact, he led very well and left a legacy for other kings of Israel or Judah to follow. God gave Isaac to Abraham at 100 years and not 75 or 76, it didn’t change the fact that Abraham had descendants as numerous as the stars. God eventually got Joseph out of jail and he was soon second in command in Egypt with a wife and children in the form of Manasseh and Ephraim whom Jacob blessed.

It can seem frustrating when you’re trusting God to help you score goals but try as you might, the net refuses to bulge. Like the jubilation witnessed when a team scores late in the 90, God makes everything beautiful in its time whether it comes in the 70^th, 83^rd or 94^th minute of your life. It may seem that you are stagnating while others get ahead but in time, you will score and it will be beautiful because God made it so.