Last week we looked at 5 ways to grow our faith. Studying His Word, spending time in prayer, and trusting who God is are a few ways we found that help us grow our faith. One question came to my mind though, and that is how to trust God’s timing. It can be so hard sometimes, especially when those I love don’t receive the desires of their hearts, or when I presume that “life’s not fair.”
Bible Verses about God’s Timing
What does the Bible tell us about God’s timing?
•“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9 NLT.
Compared to God, what do we know?
I read a book where the author compared our knowledge with that of God’s. He illustrated it with a big circle on a page with a miniscule dot in the center.
That tiny dot of our knowledge symbolized our knowledge compared to God’s. (I don’t remember the book but his illustration stuck with me!) He might have even been generous with the dot.
God’s knowledge and wisdom are far, far greater than ours. So when we question God’s timing, we are trying to fit our plans and purposes into God’s far superior timeline.
•“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Solomon explains in this chapter of Ecclesiastes that there are wonderful things in life countered with things we may not consider “good”, but it is all within God’s plan.
He has a plan for you. And for me. The secret in all our life experiences is to be at peace and accept God’s timing. The alternative? Becoming anxious, angry, doubtful, or resentful.
God saw my disappointment in the canceled vacation plans, the job furlough, and the loss of time with my granddaughters during this virus outbreak.
We don’t have to pretend that our losses don’t sting. But trusting in God’s perspective and wisdom vs my own desires brings me peace. (More on how to get to that place is coming up…)
God is the great I AM who knows our past, present, and future. We can trust in God’s timing.
Bible Verses about God’s Plan
•“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
Peter was encouraging the believers who were facing persecution and wanted deliverance. He also wanted them to realize that the time frame for Jesus’ return was not a delay, even though it felt like it to them.
We too might think God is slow in His response to us, or not listening. We want answered prayers in days or weeks. When it stretches on past that, it feels painfully slow to us. And you know what?
He understands that he seems slow to us. He knows we can feel forgotten and confused.
We can take comfort knowing he has compassion for our impatience. It’s why he recorded so many stories for us in the Bible of people who waited a long time: Abraham and Sarah’s wait for a child, Joseph in slavery and prison, the Israelite’s and the promised land, and Job’s suffering.
This verse tells us that God is patient with us, and we need to be patient with His timing. He is never slow or late.
God has no limits or restrictions of time. Be patient and wait on his timing.
God’s Plan for Your Life
•”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 a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
God spoke those words to the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon. In the verse immediately preceding this statement, however, God had informed them they would spend a total of 70 years in exile. God’s plan for them included more enslavement!
I doubt that is what they wanted to hear… But He still promised them hope and a future.
Regardless of how we see God’s plans for us, they are always good. Sometimes the “good” is persevering through trials. He can use trials to mold and shape our character into better versions of ourselves.
Jesus never promised our lives wouldn’t have pain or hardship. He spoke just the opposite: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b (NIV)
We live in a fallen world, we can’t escape suffering and painful situations. Then there’s that pesky free will that takes us out of God’s wonderful plan. But He never forgets about us. And He always promises us hope.
Trust God’s timing- it always comes with the promise of hope, no matter what our circumstances.
Pin me for later!
God’s Perfect Timing
•“But those who wait on 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.” Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV.)
God’s timing isn’t just great, it’s perfect!
He never gets exhausted from the work of being God or slows down his pace.
He certainly is never powerless to change our situation! Instead, we have this great promise that if we wait on God’s timing, he will give us the power and strength to better understand and work with his perspective.
I know that relying on my own power and strength to live in this world fails me. I’ll take God’s strength and power any day!
Working within His timing lets us put the faith we profess into practice.
Trust God’s Plan
I love this reminder from Paul about Jesus-
“For in him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17(NIV).
Jesus is our sovereign King. He was before all things in time and creation. He holds all things together.
We can trust His plans and timing.
When we feel tempted to say, “Are you there Lord?”, know that he sees you, knows what you need, and loves you.
We may feel as if we are falling apart, but He is holding us together.♥
How Do You Trust God’s Timing?
•Wait. When we feel in a hurry to move forward or decide that we can’t trust His timing, remember the words of Psalm 27:14: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
The entirety of Psalm 27 is David’s confident prayer when he was in trouble. It speaks of his faith in waiting for his light, his salvation, and his stronghold- his God.
•Pray like David about your situation- hand it over to God and wait for him to show you the path to take. Declare Him to be your stronghold and to keep you in His safe-keeping. Have you heard the saying “Let Go and Let God?” Giving it to God and trusting in Him will see you through.
•Make it a habit to trust in Him each day; one day at a time.
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation.” Psalm 68:19 (NKJV.)
Every day he loads us with his benefits: mercies, kindness, protection, and provisions. He shows his love and cares for us day after day, without limits! Not just when we need it, but daily. He has promised this to us!
Trust him when he says he will give you these things. Actively watch for his benefits to manifest themselves in your life.
•Remember his past provisions and protections for you.
Keep a prayer journal to remind yourself of answered prayers from the past. We have short memories. We sometimes forget how he guided us through the hard times.
•Continue to Walk in Faith
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5(NIV.)
Remember that dot of understanding in the larger circle of God’s knowledge? Trust in his knowledge, plans, and sovereignty in your life.
God is Always on Time
There will be situations when God’s timing leaves us frustrated and full of questions. But remember:
He created time and is it’s Master. His timing is perfect- He is never late! He is always at work for you and has been for eternity. Trusting Him will bring you peace. Believing in his timeline will give you rest!
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11.
Blessings!
AnnMarie
Photo Credit: Canva
Am man of God form Ghana
I love this massage very much
Am single man ,I want everyone to remember me in Your prayers
God should save Me form Woman
Thank you Isaac for your encouragement. And yes, I will add you to my daily prayer list! God bless you!
I am still struggling with this with a certain situation that came into my life . Luckily I knew it would not take me away from God but I still struggle with the why . What was the reason this “thing “ happened to me? Thanks for the reminder ❤️
I hear ya! I guess in some situations we may never know the “why”, which is so hard. But I do trust Him and I guess I have to be content with that and hope someday it will all make sense!
I have done everything I can to accept God’s timing and plan for my life, but seems like an insurmountable obstacle. I have simply given up trying. I’ve been going through a certain trial for the last 22 years and it has brought me nothing but unbearable suffering and emotional pain. For some this would bring them closer to God, but not I. I have slowly but surely drifted away.
Now I find myself severely distrustful of God, no longer able to worship and pray. I feel like there’s no reason to bring my pain to the one who is causing it by making me wait for decades without seeing the fulfillment of personal promises. I recognize the resentment and bitterness in myself, but am powerless to do anything about it.
It’s impossible to serve and live for such a God, but still I have noone else to turn to. I’m not walking away, but sometimes I wish I was able to do so. It seems a life without faith in God is easier. My relationship with Him gives me no comfort or benefit anymore.
Oh Thomas, you remind me of Peter who said, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” I’m so sorry for your long suffering and emotional pain. I know how much I hurt when the ones I love don’t get the answers we have earnestly prayed for. But there are a few things I do know- God does not cause our pain. Our world was cursed from the moment sin entered it, and we will not be at total peace until we arrive in Heaven. This world brings sickness and heartache. Still, He wants us to ask Him for anything, but it is not in our hands to tell Him how to answer and when to do so.
His ways are always good, whether we can see it or not. He is a God of love, and His “no” is not meant to hurt us. In my life, His “no” has taught me patience and total reliance on Him and His strength to carry on. I have to trust that what I have asked for is not in my best interest (yet- but maybe to come?) He does not ignore us or cause our pain. Does He allow it? Yes, and just as our human parents had to tell us no at times, He does the same. He has never stopped loving you through your pain and suffering and has never left your side. Is there a pastor or counselor you could speak with? Yours is the second story I have read just this week, so you are not alone. I will be writing soon on this topic- “when God says no.” I have added you to my daily prayer list, Thomas. May His strength comfort you!