Koine Greek has two words for time, Kairos and Chronos. Chronos was clock time, chronological time. Kairos was special: “the right time,” God’s Time.
Jesus highlights the difference when he tells his disciples. “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right,” John 7.6. In fact, there are constant references throughout the Gospel to his kairos time, as when Mary tries to hurry her miraculous baby into action in the marriage of Cana, and he restrains her, “My time has not come.”
Kairos. Chronos. I have many ideas, many things I want to do. I can’t do all of them right now. So, I am learning to wait for Kairos, the right time, God’s time.
How? Hands wide open, ready to receive, ready to work.
But not fists closed in the act of grabbing.
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Roy and I own a small business. We are champing at the bit to expand it as we have lots of exciting ideas, but though the kairos time to expand is very close, each time, I pray about it, I sense it is not yet at hand.
Roy took early retirement in August 2010, after 21 years as a mathematician–all-consuming work. We are still recovering: there is still some sorting out in the garage; still about ten boxes not unpacked since we moved here from America in 2004. Our investments should be looked at; the house could do with a bit more organizing and decluttering. A little more work will make the garden truly a pleasure. The business has some nuts and bolts to be tightened. Roy wants to see to all this…
We talked over our lives with an older and wiser friend, a vicar, who, somewhat to my surprise, said that when one establishes the Kingdom of God (order, tidiness, serenity) in one’s external surroundings, other things fall into place. It resonated with me. First things first. External peace and order facilitates, enables and eases internal peace and order (though it cannot create it).
So it’s not yet kairos time to expand our business. Soon, however–in a matter of weeks–it will be.
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When it is God’s time, it’s amazing how everything falls into place. Finance connections, friends appear, out of the blue, to help you; there are numerous coincidences–God-incidences.
So it is best to wait for kairos time before you force something through.
And the idea of kairos time explains why sometimes one might wait and pray a very long time for something to happen–with no apparent results–and then it happens very quickly. For me, the times when things fall into place very rapidly, efficiently, almost magically is a hallmark of God’s activity.
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I think of a reflection by Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision.
God answers all prayer. He does not answer our selfish, materialistic begging. He does not move into our sinful situation. He moves us out of our sinful situation into Himself. God sometimes moves slowly. Sometimes we don’t lack faith, but patience. Wait patiently for Him, and He will give you your heart’s desire.
1) If the request is not right, He will answer, “No.”
God answers all prayer. He does not answer our selfish, materialistic begging. He does not move into our sinful situation. He moves us out of our sinful situation into Himself. God sometimes moves slowly. Sometimes we don’t lack faith, but patience. Wait patiently for Him, and He will give you your heart’s desire.
1) If the request is not right, He will answer, “No.”
2) If the time is not right, He will answer, “Slow.”
3) When you are not right, He will answer, “Grow.”
4) When the request, the time and you are right, God will say, “Go.”
That’s when miracles happen.
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When the girls were young, I desperately wanted to write, and trying to do so with young children, exhausted me, and not that much got read, or written. The state of the house was a constant source of irritation and contention, and in retrospect, I should have prioritized getting the house together, and put my writing on the slow track, as life had decreed it should be.
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When the girls were young, I desperately wanted to write, and trying to do so with young children, exhausted me, and not that much got read, or written. The state of the house was a constant source of irritation and contention, and in retrospect, I should have prioritized getting the house together, and put my writing on the slow track, as life had decreed it should be.
Now, however, is the kairos time to write. I don’t have many other demands on me; the girls are quite independent; Roy does not need support from me in what he does; in fact, having retired early, he is able to run the house and the girls, and even help me.
So now, in the kairos time to write–I just have to shrug off distraction–and get down to it.
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So now, in the kairos time to write–I just have to shrug off distraction–and get down to it.
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So how does one know if it’s the kairos time, the right time to pursue or achieve one’s heart’s desire?
You put first things first. You seek the kingdom of God in your life—what your life would look like if God were ruling it. If your heart’s desire is not appearing, you accept that it is not yet the right time for it, and continuing preparing, and waiting and praying and working towards–patiently.
And give us grace, Lord, for this is easier said than done!!
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My book of essays: Wandering Between Two Worlds (US) or UK
Thanks, DJV, Paul and Mollie.
Paul, I don't review fiction. Have more of “a non-fiction mind.” Sorry:-)
Mollie and DJV, am so glad it connected:-)
A “timely” post that again speaks to me and where I am at in my life. Three years when I started this writing journey in earnest, I could feel success. Yet, I know, now, I have much to learn, mostly waiting on God, taking on Jesus' yoke, being obedient, living by the Spirit.
And writing, writing, writing.
Hi
Really a great insight into Gods timing; I have to confess that as I get older I am becoming less patient with what I want to achieve ,it seems that the years are melting away and I am frustrated by the lack of chronos, maybe it is systematic of a mis-spent youth however to relax and allow Kairos to beat the rhythms of life is perhaps the surrender I need; how so often we only perceive and appreciate Kairos in hindsight.
Hi Anita~
It appears we are fellow aficionados of the chronos-kairos ideas. I've loved them since I first heard them explained.
If you're interested, I did an online explanation of kairos as part of my book marketing. You can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsyqkfTZ-L0
And if you do book reviews, I'd be happy to send you a review copy of my novel “The Kairos.” More information is available at http://www.CarpeKairos.com. I'm humbled that virtually all Amazon.com reviewers have awarded it 5-stars.
Blessings on your openness to kairos moments, Anita!
Paul Hartman
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